Storm signal: The Hong Kong Observatory's enhanced lightning location webpage will help swimming pool operators better identify areas affected by lightning, allowing them to decide whether their facilities should close.

The Hong Kong Observatory has launched a trial version of an enhanced lightning location webpage. It will help swimming pool operators better identify areas affected by lightning, allowing them to decide whether their facilities should close.

Operators can know how far the lightning activity is from the pools, instead of simply closing their facilities once the Observatory issues the thunderstorm warning. They can keep pools open as long as there is no lightning threat.

The Observatory has included landmarks on the webpage map, such as public swimming pools, beaches, country parks and reservoirs, to make outdoor activities safer from storms.

It also features a new function "area statistics", providing the number of lightning strokes recorded within the area selected by user. Another new feature is the overlay of the radar image onto the lightning map.

The lightning location information service has been well received by the public since its inception in June 2005, with more than 3.6 million visits.