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Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
US Open digest: Lightning may yet have its say at Oakmont
A thunderstorm alert remains in situ for the Pittsburgh area ahead of the final two rounds of the championship , with on-site meteorologist Jake Swick monitoring a front that has headed up from Mexico and Texas and due to pass through western Pennsylvania. Swick, of Florida-based company Thor Guard, has set up a weather studio in the ladies' locker room at the club house and has two lightning predictions systems and three weather stations at the course, much of it positioned on the roof of the clubhouse. 'We work with the USGA and give them our advice, and they take that information and make the right call ... I grab every bit of weather information I can because I want it to be as accurate as possible. Every little bit of information helps,' he said. Rain itself would not stop play; it is the presence of lightning in the air, though, which would most likely lead to a suspension. READ MORE The chances of the system slowing down and missing the Pittsburgh area over the weekend? Slim, with Saturday's third round likely to be impacted. However, the prospects for the final round are improved as – just like in 2016 – there would be the chance to play catch-up if needed. Long live the Oakmont Squirrel The so-called 'Oakmont Squirrel' which is the logo for much of the merchandise at the US Open – and which includes a toy squirrel with golf ball rather than nut in its paws as one of the main sellers – is actually a secondary logo for the club, whose main crest features intertwined lettering of OCC (for Oakmont Country Club). The squirrel logo, though, has proven a popular standard for merchandise through the US Open's different iterations at Oakmont, the original – first introduced in 1962, when Jack Nicklaus won – featured a tam o'shanter. In subsequent years, artist Lee Wybranski – who produces a unique painting for each US Open venue – has advised on changes to maintain its novelty. One hit wonder A rare hole-in-one at the US Open – only the second ever at Oakmont, which is hosting the championship for a record 10th time – gave Victor Perez a helping hand in moving into contention for a breakthrough Major as he added a 70 to his opening round 71 for 141, right in the hunt for the title. Perez claimed a first top-10 finish of the season in last week's Canadian Open and brought that momentum to another level with a stunning ace on the Par 3 sixth hole. It was only the second ever ace at Oakmont (following on from Scott Simpson at the 16th in 1983) and became the 54th hole-in-one in US Open history. Australia's Adam Scott watches an approach shot on the first hole during the second round of the US Open at Oakmont Country Club. Photograph:Colourful mystery One of the great mysteries about Oakmont's historic clubhouse – which houses photographs and memorabilia, including trophies and even a discarded cigarette smoked by Angel Cabrera on his way to winning the US Open in 2007 – is how and when the actual colour of the wooden structure changed hue. Nobody knows, as early photographs were entirely black and white. Originally, based on a watercolour painting from its early days, the clubhouse featured a reddish-brown exterior that was in tune with the turn-of-the-20th century Tudor Revival buildings of the time. At some point, it changed to a green exterior. Even the club's historian David Moore has been unable to establish exactly when, but has a theory as to why it may have been changed: 'If I had to venture a guess, the white and green would kind of blend in to the golf course.' By the Numbers: 17-18 In the event of a playoff, a two hole aggregate format – playing the 17th and 18th holes – will determine the champion. If there is a tie after the two holes, a sudden-death playoff will commence on the 15th and, if needed, playing on each hole to the 18th until a winner emerges. Quote 'Everyone seems like they're exhausted when they come in off the course just because it's a punch in the face.' – Denny McCarthy of the draining nature of Oakmont.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Meteorologists using multiple detection systems to track lightning during U.S. Open
There could be a significant challenge with the weather as the U.S. Open at Oakmont gets into the final rounds. That's because rain and even storms are showing up in the forecast. The saying goes, 'When thunder roars, head indoors.' That is not so easy when the conversation includes 40,000 people on a wide-open golf course. Safety decisions might have to be made long before a storm arrives. 'Lightning striking a certain number of miles away from you doesn't always dictate whether or not you're safe or not. It's just to tell you that a lightning strike actually occurred. But for us, our goal is to give you whatever number of minutes you need to bring everyone in,' said Thor Guard Inc., Chief Meteorologist Jack Swick. With the wide, expansive area of Oakmont Country Club, it can easily be a 15-20 minute walk to a safe area. The USGA employs Thor Guard to literally be its eyes to the sky with two lightning detection systems and three weather stations on the course for the U.S. Open. While the final decision to clear the course is completely up to the USGA, Swick and his team are the go-to around the clock. 'We want 30-plus minutes to get everybody to go to the right spots, but the goal is to give them the right amount of time before lightning becomes more imminent, rather than just saying, 'Hey, it struck a certain distance away,' Swick said. Those extra minutes of prediction, not just detection, can go a long way in saving lives. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
USA Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
As storms approach U.S. Open, this single weatherman has lots to watch (and a great view)
As storms approach U.S. Open, this single weatherman has lots to watch (and a great view) Storms that just rolled through Texas, causing severe flooding in areas like San Antonio, will reach the U.S. Open at some point this weekend, with many expecting the rain to come through on Saturday during the third round of play at Oakmont Country Club. Since the weather has a massive impact on a golf tournament, the USGA uses an on-site forecaster to keep an eye on potential issues. Meteorologist Jake Swick is that person. According to a story at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Swick has taken residence in the women's locker room at Oakmont, where he's constantly monitoring the weather, including any lightning that can stop play. From the story: 'Oakmont is one of my favorite spots because I've been in this area of the clubhouse overlooking part of the golf course for pretty much every time I've worked here,' he said. 'And it's one of the best offices I could possibly imagine.' Swick, 45, of Orlando is the vice president and chief meteorologist at Thor Guard, an independent company the United States Golf Association has used as its main lightning prediction company for about 30 years. Thor Guard, which is based out of the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area, started monitoring all of the weather for the USGA in 2007. Swick joined Thor Guard in 2005, and he's been forecasting the weather at U.S. Opens and other PGA golf tournaments consistently since 2012. It's his fourth time at Oakmont. 'We work with the USGA and give them our advice, and they take that information and make the right call,' he said. According to Swick, there are two lightning prediction systems and three weather stations at Oakmont this year, with much of the apparatus on the roof of the clubhouse. Thor Guard systems, which are made in the United States and sold worldwide, monitor lightning, wind, humidity, temperature, rainfall and any other weather knowledge needed. With a setup that includes three computers and an iPad, he's monitoring the club's almost 200 acres daily. 'Honestly, doing this job, I grab every bit of weather information I can because I want it to be as accurate as possible,' Swick said. 'Every little bit of information helps.' So what does Swick see for the weekend? He's hoping it will stay similar to Thursday, which saw calm, sunny weather.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Atlantic Beach implements new ‘Thor Guard' devices to predict, protect from lightning
With storms rolling through the Jacksonville area, Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue wants beach go'ers to take seriously the danger of lightning along the coastlines. 'On the beach, you're the tallest object typically so if lightning seeks out a tall object, a conductor, that could be you,' Capt. Rob Emahiser of Jax Beach Ocean Rescue highlighted on Sunday. Now, the city of Atlantic Beach is looking to get ahead of the curve, adding its 'Thor Guard lightning prediction' system to the Ahern beach access point. Read: Fort Caroline apartment complex set ablaze by lightning strike The white 'Thor Guard' devices along Atlantic beach predict lightning strikes before they happen by analyzing the electrostatic energy in the atmosphere, providing warnings 8 to 20 minutes before a potential cloud-to-ground lightning strike. If risk of a lightning strike is predicted, the devices sound off with a loud 15 second horn blast sound. 'I think it's a great idea,' beach go'er Karen Brooks told Action News Jax at Atlantic Beach Sunday. 'It's about time I think that they have something like that here, because in Florida we take it very lightly cus we have thunderstorms happening all the time so we get kind of used to it.' While the new 'Thor Guard' system will be keeping swimmers safe at Atlantic beach, it will also be keeping children safe at Jack Russell park – letting them know to get off the swings or baseball diamond before lightning and storms roll through. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'The kids will be able to hear the sound and they'll realize 'hey this could be dangerous,' Atlantic Beach dad Ron Hoenstein told Action News Jax Sunday. 'Sometimes you run into situations where you're trying to tell them they need to go and they're like 'no, no we wanna keep playing,' but if they see that thing go off I think that's good and that they'll listen more for ya.' The two new 'Thor Guard' systems will now be working with the existing ones at the sixth and 15th street beach access points to keep Atlantic beach residents and visitors safe in the water and on land. Download the free Action News Jax First Alert Weather app for alerts when lightning hits your area. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
