Play during Inclement Weather

As general guidance the Bowls Club uses that defined in Appendix J of Bowls England rules and regulations. This simply states that if a situation arises where it is not reasonable or possible to play, players, markers, umpires and officials shall use their common sense and a spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action.  However, there is no specific details in respect of localised thunder and lightning!

 

The Club, in this instance, therefore, adopts that detailed by RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) within their fact sheet on such occurrences called “Lightning at Leisure”. This is termed the 30/30 rule.

 

This means that you should be thinking about the proximity of the lightning, not the occurrence of rain. The 30/30 rule provides a good way of ensuring one is sheltering during the riskiest parts of the storm. It proposes that if the flash to bang is 30 seconds in length or less you should seek shelter. Staying inside this shelter is advised until 30 minutes past the last clap of thunder. This ensures that any distant strikes at the beginning of the storm (lightning can travel up to 10 miles), or trailing storm clouds at the back of the storm do not take anyone by surprise.”