News and Media

Lightning fatalities and the importance of warning systems

One of TOA Systems’ and MetraWeather Asia’s key partners, Riajati Sdn Bhd of Malaysia, recently reflected on the tragic death of a football player and injuries to several other people when lightning struck a football field just outside of Kuala Lumpur. (Quote) The nation was shocked on Sunday (10 Mar 2019) afternoon when footballers and spectators in a football field in Setia Alam, Shah Alam were struck by lightning….

Read More

Enterprise-level lightning warning system for remote locations

From the industry innovators who first developed modern lightning detection technology, a premium-quality visual and audible warning system designed to provide unattended, automated monitoring and conspicuous outdoor alerting of approaching lightning activity. As one of the world’s leading providers of lightning detection technology and information, TOA Systems, Inc. has teamed up with Campbell Scientific, Inc.®, the market leader for rugged and reliable hardware solutions. The result is a rugged,…

Read More

MetService and TOA Systems collaborate on world-first

Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService) is pioneering the first-ever South Pacific-wide lightning detection network in partnership with TOA Systems, Inc. In South Pacific countries, lightning information from the SPLN will assist with forecasting and monitoring of events by National Meteorological Services. Disaster response agencies in these countries will also have an increased ability to mitigate the impacts of lightning through awareness and education. The South Pacific Lightning Network (SPLN) will…

Read More

Saving lives and improving thunderstorm forecasting in Malaysia

A new Malaysian lightning detection network brings benefits for public weather forecasting, worker safety and commercial operations impacted by lightning events. Lightning is one of the most dangerous and frequently encountered weather hazards In Malaysia. It takes lives, causes severe injuries, damages vital infrastructure and disrupts operations. Professor Ir Dr Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir, a Director of the Centre for Electromagnetic and Lightning Protection Research at the Universiti…

Read More

TOA Systems develops unique South Pacific Lightning Network

In partnership with the Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService), TOA Systems is investing in the South Pacific region by deploying its lightning sensors across this huge area to provide critical severe weather information never previously available. Working with local island National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to assist with hosting in return for information from the system at no charge, TOA and MetService will provide comprehensive lightning information across…

Read More

TOA Systems provides Bangladesh’s first lightning system

Dhaka, May 13, 2018 (UNB) – Eight sensors capable of pinpointing lightning-prone areas and providing early warnings on incidence of lightning have been installed in the country. Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has set up the US-made sensors recently, which will allow people to know when the incidents might occur in specific area and will reduce the loss of lives, meteorologists said. “Lightning forecast can be provided with…

Read More

TOA’s Australian lightning network partnership with MetraWeather

Lightning is one of the most dangerous and frequently encountered weather hazards in Australia. There are deaths and over 100 severe injuries caused by lightning in Australia year-on-year. Lightning can severely harm or take the lives of workers and has the potential to disrupt operations through damage to communications and plant infrastructure, fire and ignition risks, and downtime on sites until the lightning threat has passed. In Australia, the…

Read More

Completed the first phase of a pan-Oceania lightning location network

Oceania lightning

The high-resolution network will improve Oceania’s resilience to severe weather events and provide meteorological agencies and commercial users with a level of lightning visibility never before seen. Lightning is one of the most dangerous and frequently encountered weather hazards. It can take lives, cause severe injuries, damage vital infrastructure, and disrupt commercial operations. These disruptions include operational impacts upon airports, energy utilities, communications networks, and the tourism industry upon…

Read More

MetraWeather and TOA Pan-Oceanic Lightning Network

Oceanic Lightning

The first phase of the Oceanic Lightning program has seen the planned installation of TOA sensors in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Raoul Island, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, and Tonga. Data from these installation sites is combined with information from other TOA lightning sensor installation sites to form a true lightning detection network, with many sensors in the network detecting the same single lightning event thus introducing improved detection…

Read More

General Lightning Safety

lightning safety

Lightning safety is a serious concern. There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. You need to take the appropriate actions to prevent incidents. Studies using lightning detection systems have found that on average, lightning will hit within six to eight miles of the last strike. You can determine how many miles you are from a lightning strike by counting on the fact that light travels much faster…

Read More