A new weather alert system is now monitoring athletic fields across Plant City, giving players, coaches and families an added layer of protection when dangerous weather approaches.

Plant City’s Parks and Recreation Department recently installed Perry Weather systems at its athletic facilities. The technology detects lightning and tracks weather conditions, sounding an audible alarm when it’s time for people to leave the field and seek shelter. City officials say the system can detect lightning up to eight miles away while also monitoring heat, wind speed, rainfall, and other conditions in real time.

Julie Garretson, Plant City’s Parks and Recreation Director, said the system removes the guesswork from deciding when to clear athletic fields, allowing staff to make faster, more consistent calls to protect players, coaches and parents. She said the technology creates a more streamlined process across all of the city’s sports complexes, and the data it collects can also support emergency management officials during severe weather events.

Arianna Parchment, who was working out at Ellis Methvin Park, said she welcomes the new system, noting that Florida storms can be unpredictable. She said her son has played flag football at the park many times, and games have often been halted and rescheduled because of rain.

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