MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Rutherford County Schools is taking the guesswork out of severe weather safety by installing 34 onsite weather stations across the district.

Athletic Director Greg Wyant announced the deployment of the Perry Weather system, which provides real-time, location-specific data directly to school personnel. Officials can monitor live updates through the Perry Weather mobile app and dashboard, allowing athletic trainers, coaches, teachers, and administrators to track conditions at their specific campuses.

The equipment monitors several environmental factors, including lightning, precipitation, wind speed, air quality, and wet bulb globe temperature. When the system detects lightning within 10 miles of any Rutherford County Schools facility, the onsite station sounds an audible warning to notify individuals outdoors to seek shelter immediately. The technology also initiates an automated countdown timer to provide clear indications of when outdoor activities can safely resume.

Beyond lightning detection, the automated system sends alerts based on established district weather policies. This data guides operational decisions beyond athletics, helping staff manage safety protocols for recess, student drop-off and pickup routines, field trips, outdoor physical education classes, and walking breaks.

Wyant emphasized that the district-wide implementation aims to provide accurate information, enable rapid communication, and establish consistent safety responses across all campuses in Rutherford County.