As every ride operator knows that when threatening weather looms, such as a thunderstorm, rides are on the verge of being shut down due to something like lightning or high winds.

I believe that different parks have different codes or phases as to what rides are shut down depending on the maximum height of the ride and the distance away from a storm.

In our park Frontier City, when lightning is reported to be within than 10 miles away from the park, the towering rides like the Eruption (S&S Sky Sling), Skycoaster, and Hangman (Chance Tower) are shut down. If lightning is sighted anywhere from the park, all rides over 50 feet in maximum height (including all four roller coasters) are shut down. The Eruption will also close if winds reach 20 MPH at the tower level.


At Six Flags over Texas, I believe they break it down into phases. To the best of my knowledge, it goes like this:

Phase 1 means that lightning is as close as 30 miles away from the park; the rides shut down are

Titan
Dive Bomber
Superman: Tower of Power
Mr. Freeze
Texas Chute Out (parachute drop)
Oil Derrick (observation deck)

Phase 2 means that lightning is within 20 miles from the park; additional shut downs include

Texas Giant
Batman, The Ride
Wildcatter
Flashback
Shockwave

Phase 3 means that lightning is within 10 miles...the following close

Bobsled
Judge Roy Scream
Mine Train
all outdoor water rides and high flats

The rest of the rides should still continue to operate until a Code C alert is issued, which means severe weather (tornadoes, hailstorm, flooding, or microburst) is near or at the park, at which all outside operations are halted.

Code C means severe weather alert....all outside rides are shut down including

Train ride
Carousel
Go-Karts
Antique Chaparral Cars
Mini Mine Train
all Looney Tunes Land rides


How does it work at other parks?

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It's time to play some DEFENSE!

At Cedar Point:

If lightning is detected within a 10 mile radius of the park, all coasters and tall rides shut down.

If lightning is very visible, almost everything is shut down, with a few exceptions.

It might be a little more detailed then that, but that's the basic idea. I think most parks probably follow the "10 mile radius" policy.

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I think Carowinds waits until lightning is visible to shut rides down and rides shut down for very hard rain.

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I dont work at a park... But I have been at many in thunder storms.

Canobie only shuts down when they get a call out to shut down.(so even if a ride op sees a storm on the way they will/can keep the rides open) I dont know if other parks do this or not. But I have been to Canobie when you could see lightning across the lake. But they kept rides open till the rain came in. I was even able to ride the parks 80 foot S&S tower when you could see the lightning. They even kept the ride open for 4-5 more cycles and didnt close it till the rain came down.

At BGT, we have "classes" of rides. The coasters and Rhino Rally, for example, are Class A rides. The smaller ones are Class B. And there are a couple of other exceptions and groups.

Lightning is our big bane. If it's within a certain radius, pretty much everything except shops and restaurants close. Here in Tampa, you'll get a least a brief period of that most days during the late Spring to early Fall. But then when you figure the rides are essentially giant lightning rods, it only makes sense.

Rainfall will be a different story, and will depend on how hard it's falling. There are also a couple of rides more prone to flooding from the heavy downpours, so it may be an individual ride's call as opposed to one by ride class.

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I know SplashTown here in Houston closes and advises all guests to seek indoor shelter during 'inclement weather'. I'm not sure if they offer rain-checks, but if you hear a looonggggg series of whistles blasts, that means a TStorm is coming, and everyone has to get out of the water. It's pretty eerie to hear the whistle blasts. The air turns into a still confusion, but the high pitched squeal of lifeguard whistles overpower any conversation.

Several rides at AstroWorld close when high winds approach and remain. And also, if rains, the park advises to go indoors, attend a show, and whatnot. They also offer rainchecks, "if the entertainment value of your visit is affect". I'm not sure what that means but I know for sure the following rides close during inclement weather:

Serial Thriller, Batman The Escape, Looping Starship, Ultra Twister, Greezed Lightnin', Texas Cyclone, Viper, XLR-8, Diablo Falls and Swat. These rides are required a 60 minute closure period.

I konw that Tidal Wave, our water chute ride, operates in mild rain (NO thunder/lighting for obvious reason). I rode in several showers once before. The rain does end up numbing that is already numb from night rides on that water ride...

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SFGRADV
on a silight drizzle KK shuts down

In rain all coasters but Skull mountain and most kiddie rides close

If lightning is reported 10 miles all rides close

If there is lightning within 15 miles (I beleive) of Universal, the following rides shut down:

Jaws (closed anyway)
Dr. Doom
Hulk
Dueling Dragons
Jurassic Park
Woodie Woodpecker
Flying Unicorn
Dudley Do-Right
Some Kids areas
Any other outdoor rides

I'm pretty sure that's how it goes.

At SFKK, we have four classes of rides: alpha, beta, ceppa, and delta (I'm almost for certain I got most of these wrong, but I know they start with A, B, C, and D). I can't remember which order of weather-related issues they go with, but one group of rides closes down if there is slight rain (ie. Breakdance:wet, slippery floor= law suits= wu-hu).

The next class will close if there is moderate to hard rain, but still no lightning (ie. can't think of any).

The next class is when lightning is present and most of the rides in the park will go down (all coasters, tall and medium sized flats, etc.).

The final class is when God just wants to release all that is evil right on top of Louisville and make the entie park close (very rare, but has happeend a few times, like twice). In this class, the rides that close down are the kiddie rides, the carousel, and Thrill Park Theater; when these rides close, you know that the weather has gotten very severe and your best bet is to get to the closest weather shelter. Although when the whole park closes and it sucks for the guests, the employees have an entirely different take when this happens. We have a very pleasant time when the rides close due to weather, to say the least.

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I'm going to be in a movie one day about all the people who enjoy riding T2. The movie will be called The Fantastic Four.

At the parks I worked at lightning closed down all rides both flat and tall Rain by it self though closed down very little. Only a couple of rides where water would disturb breaking ability.

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At Clementon Park, J2 and all other flats besides Kiddieland, Carousel and Swings <----go figure... are shut down when lightning is visible and we don't resume operation until the storm completely passes. The rain has to come to a halt and the lightning has to stop.

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At Geauga Lake if Lightning is withing 5 miles they shut down all the large rides. Anything that goes up into the air. Usually you know that everything is going to be closed because we see the water slides empty out. Some times if the weather gets bad enough they close the kids rides too.

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