How to Write a Pool Lightning Closure Policy

A pool lightning closure policy tells staff when to clear the pool, where people go, and who decides when to reopen. The National Weather Service says that if you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance, so clear the water and get people indoors. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside. During an actual storm, staff follow their training and your facility plan, so write that plan before the season.

Does a pool need a written lightning plan?

Yes. The CDC's Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) section 6.3.4.5.9 (check what your state adopted) says pool facilities must have a response plan for local weather events, including lightning. The plan must cover staff training, evacuation steps, and how to decide when it is acceptable to reopen (6.3.4.5.9.1). Even where it isn't law, that list is a good outline.

What should trigger an outdoor pool closure?

The National Weather Service says there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. Its short rule is "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors." It also warns that many people wait too long to get to safety.

So the trigger is thunder or lightning, not rain. Staff shouldn't wait for rain or for a swimmer to report a flash.

Name the staff member who watches the weather and the person who announces the closure. Name a backup for each role. Say who tells the front desk, stops new entry, and leads people to shelter.

Where should swimmers and staff go?

The National Weather Service says safe shelters are buildings with electricity and plumbing, or metal-topped vehicles with the windows closed. It says picnic shelters, dugouts, and small buildings without plumbing or electricity are not safe. An open-sided pavilion or an umbrella by the pool is not shelter.

Pick the shelter for your site before the season. Then plan the route:

• Who helps children and people who need help moving?
• Where do visitors without a car go?
• Who checks that the pool, deck, and restrooms are empty?
• Is the shelter building open during every shift?

A locked building on the site map is not a place you can send people.

What should the written policy include?

Fill in one of these per pool, and change anything your local code sets differently.

Part of the plan	What to write down
Trigger	Thunder heard or lightning seen (National Weather Service guidance)
Who calls it	Named role and a backup
How swimmers are told	Whistle signal, announcement, or both
Shelter	Named building or vehicles that meet National Weather Service guidance
Clearing check	Who confirms the water, deck, and restrooms are empty
Wait time	At least 30 minutes after the last thunder, or longer if your code says so
Who may reopen	Named role, after the site checks
Reopening checks	Damage, debris, staffing, and any water test your plan requires
Training	When staff practice the plan (the MAHC lists training as part of the plan)
Record	Times, reason, who decided, and any problems

What should staff record during the closure?

Keep a short record of the closure time, the reason, who made the call, and any problem with the plan. Recording should never slow down getting people to shelter.

Name who watches for more thunder from a safe place. Record each new rumble, because it restarts the wait. The next shift then knows when the closure began.

Keep different closure reasons separate. A storm closure may happen while a water problem is still open. Our guide to the commercial pool chlorine range explains how to find the water limits that apply. Better weather does not fix a water problem.

When can the pool reopen?

The National Weather Service says to wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside. If you hear thunder again, the 30 minutes start over. The MAHC does not set a wait time; it asks for a weather plan that says when to reopen (6.3.4.5.9.1). Your local rules or facility plan may ask for more.

Name who checks the site and who may reopen. Look for damage, debris, and enough staff to guard the water. Our pool reopening checklist covers the checks for other kinds of closures too.

Do not promise swimmers an exact reopening time while the storm is active. Record the actual decision, the time, and who made it.

What about indoor pools or an injury?

A roof does not answer every lightning question. The National Weather Service says lightning can enter buildings through wires and pipes. It tells people indoors to avoid plumbing, such as showers and washing hands, during a storm. Ask your qualified safety advisers how that applies to an indoor pool, and follow your health department's rules.

If someone is hurt, start the emergency plan, call emergency services, and follow the dispatcher and your training. Give recordkeeping to someone whose duties allow it.

How can you review the policy with your team?

Walk through roles and shelter access before the season. Ask what happens if the usual manager is out or the shelter is closed. Review other closure plans too, like your fecal incident response records.

Poolean records pool closures and the reopening steps your team has entered. Your named staff still make the reopening call; the record shows who made it and when. Read about water testing and closure records or book a 30-minute call.

The short version

• Close outdoor water at the first thunder or lightning; do not wait for rain.
• Send people to a building with plumbing and electricity, or a closed metal-topped vehicle.
• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder; new thunder restarts the wait.
• Name who calls the closure, who checks the site, and who may reopen.
• Record the times, the reason and who decided, and keep storm closures separate from water problems.