Ahead of the Storm: Proactive Weather Planning for Athletic Directors
Keeping Athletes & Fans Safe: Revolutionizing Weather Safety in Education Based Athletics - Get Access to Free Critical Incident Planning Template
In the realm of athletics, where precision and preparation often spell the difference between success and failure, one unpredictable element has continually plagued coaches, athletes, and administrators: the weather. From lightning strikes disrupting games to heatwaves threatening athlete safety, the risks posed by severe weather are as real as they are relentless. Enter Flash Weather AI, a groundbreaking tool designed to make weather safety smarter, faster, and more reliable.
On the latest episode of the Bound for Greatness podcast, host Scott Jarvis sat down with Jason Deese, Founder and CEO of Flash Weather AI, and Jameson Allen, an expert in weather safety and emergency preparedness, to discuss how their cutting-edge technology is reshaping athletic safety protocols.
From Research Meteorologist to Entrepreneur
Jason Deese spent 21 years as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service before taking a bold leap into the private sector. Motivated by the glaring inadequacies in existing weather safety measures, Deese founded Flash Weather AI with a mission to empower decision-makers with tools that provide precise, actionable data.
“I saw a need,” Deese shared. “We could tell people where lightning had struck, but that didn’t help anyone make real-time decisions. I wanted to build a system that could predict where lightning and other severe weather events would happen, with enough lead time to keep people safe.”
Deese’s vision culminated in Flash Weather AI, a platform leveraging 25 years of meteorological data and artificial intelligence to provide hyper-local, real-time forecasts every two minutes—a staggering improvement over traditional weather services, which update forecasts every 1 to 6 hours.
The High-Stakes Role of Weather Safety in Athletics
The stakes couldn’t be higher for athletic directors and coaches responsible for the safety of athletes, spectators, and staff. Jameson Allen, who joined Flash Weather AI after witnessing its potential firsthand as a youth baseball coach, explained the critical importance of tools like this.
“Too often, we rely on generalized weather reports that don’t account for the specifics of our location,” Allen said. “Flash Weather AI changes that. Whether it’s predicting lightning strikes, managing heat risks, or assessing travel safety during winter storms, the platform provides the precision we’ve been missing.”
Allen highlighted a crucial feature of the platform: its ability to tailor risk assessments to geographic and environmental contexts. For example, 85 degrees in Chicago might pose a higher heat risk than the same temperature in Louisiana, where people are more acclimated to such conditions.
Moving Beyond the 30-Minute Rule
One of the most eye-opening aspects of the discussion was how outdated safety protocols, like the “30-minute rule” for lightning, are being reimagined.
Deese recounted a tragic incident in Montana where two soccer players were struck by lightning after coaches followed the standard 30-minute rule, only for a storm to form minutes later. “With Flash, we look inside the atmosphere to determine if more lightning is possible,” Deese explained. “Sometimes we can get you back out safely in 15 minutes, and sometimes we’ll make you wait longer than 30—but you’ll know it’s the right call.”
Proactive Planning and Communication
Both Deese and Allen emphasized the importance of combining technology with robust safety plans. “Having the right technology is only half the battle,” Deese said. “Schools and organizations need detailed, practiced protocols that align with these tools. It’s about creating a seamless system where everyone—coaches, parents, and administrators—is on the same page.”
Allen echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for proactive approaches. “Don’t wait for a disaster to strike before you take weather safety seriously,” he urged. “Flash Weather AI not only helps you plan but also provides peace of mind by ensuring everyone is working from the same accurate, real-time data.”
A Safer Future for Athletics
As weather patterns grow increasingly unpredictable, tools like Flash Weather AI represent a monumental step forward in keeping athletes safe. With features like multi-user access, hyper-local forecasts, and AI-driven risk assessments, the platform is set to become an indispensable part of athletic safety protocols.
To learn more, visit flashweather.ai. Schools and athletic departments can access the platform for free and implement it in minutes.
In a world where seconds can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe, Flash Weather AI is proving that preparation, precision, and technology can save lives—and keep the game going.
Free Critical Incident Plan Template: Empowering Athletic Directors to Ensure Safety
Athletic Directors, take proactive steps to safeguard your athletes, staff, and spectators with a free critical incident plan template designed to help you develop a comprehensive weather safety and emergency response strategy. This resource provides a customizable framework to address lightning, heat risks, severe storms, and more, ensuring your organization is prepared for any scenario. Download your free plan today and start building a safer future for your athletic programs.
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