Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Free real-time lightning service launched

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) has launched a new free real-time lightning service on multiple platforms.

It will be available as a mobile app called Lightning@SG, on the MSS website, and through the weather information hotline number.

With the app, smart phone users will be able to customise up to three locations of interest and receive push alerts when lightning is detected within a pre-defined distance of either six kilometres or eight kilometres from their location of interest.

Users will also be able to choose the type of lightning (cloud-to-cloud and/ or cloud-to-ground) and thundery showers forecast that they wish to receive a push alert on.



The lightning information service will be available on the MSS website via a link from the National Environment Agency website.

The website will display a scrolling ticker message when lightning is detected in the selected watch areas.

The public can also call the MSS weather information hotline (6542 7788) for real-time lightning information.

Singapore has one of the highest rates of lightning activity in the world given its location in the tropics.

On average, there are around 167 thunderstorm days a year in Singapore.

MSS says lightning strikes are a potential safety hazard for anyone engaging in outdoor activities in Singapore.

MSS says it is important for the public to be alerted of potential lightning risk when out in the open.

MSS will be distributing educational material on lightning safety precautions to schools, community centres and facilities providing outdoor services.

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