As for as what a Phase II lightning alert means, this is direct from a NASA paper on lightning at KSC....
KSC pioneered a two-phase lightning warning policy. In Phase I, an Advisory is issued that lightning is forecast within five miles of the designated site within 30 minutes of the effective time of the Advisory. The 30-minute warning gives personnel in unprotected areas time to get to protective shelter and gives personnel working on lightning sensitive tasks time to secure operations in a safe and orderly manner. A Phase II Warning is issued when lightning is imminent or occurring within five miles of the designated site. All lightning-sensitive operations are terminated until the Phase II Warning is lifted. This twophase policy provides adequate lead time for sensitive operations without shutting down less sensitive operations until the hazard becomes immediate.
And the weather officer says there’s a lightning strike within 4 nautical miles.
get out your brushes...I smell a scrub a-comin’....
Thanks for the hot, timely updates H62.
Here's hoping the launch is a go.
I did some consulting work at Homestead AFB, a year or so after it got destroyed by the hurricane. We had a briefing in the early morning (7 am or so) and the guy said to be back inside or off the facility as a thunderstorm would be hitting at 4:38 pm. (Or whatever - but down to the minute).
I said “are you sure it’s not 4:39” with a chuckle. He stared/scowled at me and said “4:38”.
I seem to recall that he was off by a minute or so when it did hit (and it hit hard!), but still wonder how he was able to call it that close from 10 hours earlier?