MxVision Weather Sentry says wind crews should call it a day in northern Ohio. Lightning has been spotted in the area and is moving through with a storm. The image shows what crews see as warnings.
The safety of maintenance crews is in the hands of wind-farm operators when severe weather hits. When a storm is approaching and without an on-site meteorologist, how do wind farms know what weather to expect at their location? Wind farms across the country rely on Schneider Electric’s MxVision WeatherSentry Online for accurate, up to the minute forecasts to help ensure crews make it to the ground safely.
Lighting is a primary concern for wind farms because the height of wind turbines makes them prone to strikes. With the next generation lightning-safety technology, the lightning heading to your area can be detected in real-time. MxVision WeatherSentry Online also provides alerts via email or text message when lightning strikes are detected within a pre-determined area. This is a huge asset because lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a main storm cell, sometimes striking before you even see the storm form.
The developer’s color-coded map makes it easy to see where lightning will strike in the next hour, making sure you are aware of what areas will put people in harm’s way, and let the evacuation begin before the storm hits.
Safety is critical in the severe weather season. Wind farms want to ensure that all maintenance crews can get up and down towers safely.
Filed Under: News, O&M, Safety, Software
Dear Sirs:
What about the on-site meteorologist? Is there a need for such a person? What are the qualifications for such a position?
You might like to know that Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas offers a 2 year associates degree in Wind Energy Sciences with courses in Meteorology, Oceanography, Climatology, Physical, and principles of Geography. So, would completing that course of study qualify for the onsite met job?
Bobby