Many residents and golf members have heard the Thor Guard sirens this summer and may be wondering exactly what they mean. The Herons Glen Recreation District uses the Thor Guard lightning prediction system to help protect residents, golfers, and staff during potentially dangerous weather conditions.
Unlike traditional weather monitoring systems that react to lightning after it occurs, Thor Guard is designed to predict the potential for lightning strikes by monitoring static electricity and changes in atmospheric conditions. The system forecasts lightning risk within a 10-mile radius, allowing individuals time to seek shelter before dangerous conditions develop.
Warning Alert
A single continuous 15-second horn blast will sound, and strobe lights throughout the community will activate. This indicates that conditions are favorable for lightning and everyone should seek shelter immediately.
All Clear
When atmospheric conditions return to a safe level, three 5-second horn blasts (separated by two seconds) will sound, and the strobe lights will turn off.
Important To Know
- Horn alerts sound only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- If a lightning threat remains after hours, strobe lights will remain active until 10:00 p.m.
- HGRD staff cannot manually control or override the system.
- The system may issue an alert even when skies overhead appear clear, as it is monitoring atmospheric conditions throughout the protected area.
Residents can view the Herons Glen portion of the Thor Guard system at https://360.thormobile.net/heronsglencc/tv/. This link is available on the Herons Glen website and mobile app.
Please note that the Herons Glen webpage and mobile app are intended for viewing the system only and do not provide push notifications or alerts. Residents who would like to receive lightning warnings directly on their smartphones should download the free ThorAlert app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and use System ID 62 during setup.
Your safety is always our top priority, and we appreciate everyone taking these alerts seriously and responding promptly when they occur.
