Lightning information service launched today

SINGAPORE — The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) launched a lightning information service today (Oct 8). Members of the public can now access information on lightning strikes in Singapore through smartphone applications, the MSS website or the weather information hotline.

The smartphone app, Lightning@SG, is available for both iPhones and Android phones. Some features of the app include customising up to three locations of interest. Users can receive push alerts when lightning is detected within a pre-defined distance of six or eight kilometres from the locations. In addition, users are able to choose the type of lightning and thundery showers forecast for which they would like to receive a push alert.

Lightning information is also available on the MSS website (http://tdy.sg/msslightning), and at the MSS weather information hotline at 6542 7788.

According to the Director-General of MSS, Ms Wong Chin Ling, Singapore has one of the highest rates of lightning activity in the world. “With an average of around 167 thunderstorm days a year, lightning strikes are a potential safety hazard for anyone engaging in outdoor activities in Singapore. Therefore, it is important for the public to be alerted of potential lightning risk when out in the open.”

Professor Liew Ah Choy, Professorial Fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering said that the Lightning Information Service provides excellent information. “The information will benefit and allow many entities, as well as the general public, to make good decisions based on the risk of impending lightning over their areas of interest,” he said.

MSS will also be distributing educational material on lightning safety to schools, community centres and facilities providing outdoor services to further educate the public on the potential lightning risk.