In this article · 8 sections
WeatherSentry Sports Edition is DTN’s weather product for coaches, managers and league coordinators. Flash is narrower and earlier: it forecasts lightning and hail for each 1×1 km cell before the storm arrives. This comparison sets out what each company publishes, as of 15 October 2026, so you can see which fits your policy and where they overlap.
The short answer
DTN WeatherSentry is a broad weather-intelligence dashboard: real-time lightning detection, storm corridor maps, WBGT forecasts, alerts on up to 50 weather parameters and 24/7 meteorological consulting, with the OnGuard siren as an add-on. Flash forecasts, for every 1×1 km cell, the likelihood of a cloud-to-ground strike in the next 60 minutes, refreshed every 2 minutes, with up to 99.6% one-hour accuracy against NLDN strikes. If you want one dashboard that covers every weather variable for an event, DTN is built for that. If the decision that keeps you up at night is when to clear the field, Flash is built for that.
What DTN WeatherSentry does well
Everything in this section is as published on dtn.com, checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Breadth. WeatherSentry Sports Edition combines real-time lightning strike detection, storm corridor maps, WBGT forecasts and alerts, hourly forecasts for 72 hours and weather maps out to 15 days on a single dashboard.
- Storm tracking. DTN’s storm corridor maps show where severe weather is, where it is heading over the next 30 minutes, and its estimated arrival time at your venue.
- Configurable alerts. Alerts can be set on up to 50 weather parameters, with an all-clear alert when it is safe to resume and GPS-based alerts through the companion mobile app.
- Meteorologists. DTN offers meteorological consulting 24/7, every day of the year.
- Optional on-site alerting. The OnGuard Siren add-on, triggered by WeatherSentry, includes three multi-directional sirens and a two-colour beacon, with separate advisory, caution and warning ranges for lightning plus an all-clear. DTN states 97 dB at 100 feet and describes the sirens as maintenance-free.
- A trial. DTN offers seven days of unrestricted WeatherSentry use before you sign up.
DTN’s sports pages feature Notre Dame Stadium, the Columbus Crew, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seminole County Public Schools among its case studies.
How Flash approaches the same problem
A strike-detection alert fires once lightning is located inside your range. A storm corridor projects where an existing storm is heading. Flash asks a narrower question for every 1×1 km cell: how likely is a cloud-to-ground strike here in the next 60 minutes? The model ingests 30+ integrated data signals, re-runs every 2 minutes, and flags your cell with a time attached, which matters most when a cell builds over your site rather than tracking in from a distance.
- 60 minlead time, up to
- 1×1 kmcell per site
- 2 minmodel refresh
- Up to 99.6%one-hour lightning accuracy
Flash scores that forecast hit or miss per cell against NLDN strikes and publishes the definitions on the accuracy method page. Detected strikes appear on the same Flash map, and the all-clear timer runs from the last strike. Flash also forecasts hail up to 55 minutes before it reaches a site, refreshed every 5 minutes, and gives a 6-hour WBGT outlook for heat-policy planning.
There is nothing to install. Alerts reach staff through the web app, the mobile app, SMS and email, and through relays to horns and strobes you already own, or through Flash Weather Shield, a solar, cellular siren that sounds on the forecast. Flash also has consulting meteorologists, billed by the day, for policy writing, season reviews and event briefings.
DTN WeatherSentry vs Flash, side by side
| Attribute | DTN WeatherSentry | Flash |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning alert | Real-time strike detection with alerts inside your chosen ranges | Per-cell strike forecast up to 60 minutes ahead, plus detected strikes on the map |
| Looking ahead | Storm corridors: storm path over the next 30 minutes and ETA at your venue | Lightning likelihood per 1×1 km cell for the next 60 minutes, refreshed every 2 minutes |
| Heat | WBGT forecasts and alerts | 6-hour WBGT outlook beside any on-site reading your policy requires |
| Other weather | Alerts on up to 50 parameters; 72-hour hourly and 15-day maps | Hail up to 55 minutes ahead; wind, rain and frost from the same 1×1 km grid |
| On-site alerting | OnGuard Siren add-on, triggered by WeatherSentry | Relays for existing horns, or Flash Weather Shield |
| Meteorologists | Consulting 24/7, every day of the year | Consulting meteorologists, billed by the day |
| Pricing | Not published on the pages we checked; seven-day trial | Per site, annual, quoted after a demo; free app tier for individuals |
DTN WeatherSentry
- Lightning alert
- Real-time strike detection with alerts inside your chosen ranges
- Looking ahead
- Storm corridors: storm path over the next 30 minutes and ETA at your venue
- Heat
- WBGT forecasts and alerts
- Other weather
- Alerts on up to 50 parameters; 72-hour hourly and 15-day maps
- On-site alerting
- OnGuard Siren add-on, triggered by WeatherSentry
- Meteorologists
- Consulting 24/7, every day of the year
- Pricing
- Not published on the pages we checked; seven-day trial
Flash
- Lightning alert
- Per-cell strike forecast up to 60 minutes ahead, plus detected strikes on the map
- Looking ahead
- Lightning likelihood per 1×1 km cell for the next 60 minutes, refreshed every 2 minutes
- Heat
- 6-hour WBGT outlook beside any on-site reading your policy requires
- Other weather
- Hail up to 55 minutes ahead; wind, rain and frost from the same 1×1 km grid
- On-site alerting
- Relays for existing horns, or Flash Weather Shield
- Meteorologists
- Consulting meteorologists, billed by the day
- Pricing
- Per site, annual, quoted after a demo; free app tier for individuals
When DTN WeatherSentry is the better fit
- You run large events and want one dashboard covering many weather variables, with a meteorologist available around the clock.
- Your organisation already uses DTN elsewhere and values keeping alerts on one platform.
- Your lightning policy is built on detected-strike ranges and you want those ranges to drive an on-site siren.
When Flash is the better fit
- The costly decision is the first one: clearing a field, a course or a pool before a strike, not after the first strike in range.
- You manage many sites and want each one judged on its own 1×1 km cell, with nothing to install.
- You want a published, checkable accuracy method behind the alert you act on.
Flash is the official weather safety provider of the Big 12 Conference, the Official Weather Monitoring & Alert System of the NAIA through October 2028, and a Preferred Vendor Partner across all 700+ Troon golf properties.
Running both
A broad dashboard and a specialist forecast can sit side by side. Teams that keep DTN for event-wide weather can add Flash for the hour before the first strike, and use detected strikes from either for the all-clear. The prediction vs sensors vs detection explainer sets out where each technology belongs in a safety plan.
Frequently asked
As published on dtn.com on 15 Oct 2026, WeatherSentry Sports Edition offers real-time lightning strike detection, alerts by range, and storm corridor maps that project a storm’s path and arrival time over the next 30 minutes. Flash forecasts the likelihood of a strike per 1×1 km cell for the next 60 minutes.
Both forecast WBGT. DTN includes WBGT forecasts and alerts in WeatherSentry; Flash gives a 6-hour WBGT outlook. If your state policy requires an on-site reading, keep that device with either one.
DTN does not publish a price on the WeatherSentry Sports Edition or OnGuard pages we checked on 15 Oct 2026; it offers a seven-day trial. Flash is quoted per site, annually, after a demo.