Weather Policy

Summary

York County Parks and Recreation is committed to providing safe programs and facilities. Weather conditions may require program cancellations, delays, or facility closures. The guidelines below summarize how weather-related decisions are made and communicated.

General Authority

York County Parks and Recreation reserves the right to cancel programs or close facilities due to inclement or unsafe weather.
Decisions may be made in advance or on-site, depending on conditions.
All County decisions regarding cancellations, closures, and field playability are final.
Participants and parents are responsible for personal participation decisions when activities are not cancelled but weather conditions are uncomfortable.

County & School Closures

York County Government Offices

Closed or closing early: All Parks and Recreation programs, events, classes, and rentals are cancelled.
Opening late: Activities scheduled after the delayed opening will proceed as scheduled; activities scheduled before the opening are cancelled or delayed.

York County School Division

Schools are closed, closing early, or after-school activities cancelled: All Parks and Recreation programs, events, classes, and rentals are cancelled.
Schools reserve the right to cancel all weekend activities held on school grounds.
Schools are opening late: Activities scheduled after the delayed opening will proceed as scheduled; activities scheduled before the opening are cancelled or delayed.

Non-School Days & Extended Weather Events

When schools are not in session, Parks and Recreation may cancel programs or close facilities based on conditions at individual locations.
During extended or county-wide weather events, closures and cancellations may vary by facility to allow activities to resume as conditions improve.

Outdoor Fields & Facilities

Programs, practices, games, tournaments, and rentals may be delayed or cancelled due to conditions including, but not limited to:

Standing water or saturated ground
Unsafe or slippery footing
Frost, snow, sleet, or freezing rain
Lightning or severe storms
Unsafe facility conditions or risk of damage

Organizations are responsible for cancelling activities when field conditions are poor. Failure to do so may result in permit revocation, repair costs, and denial of future use.

Indoor Facilities

Indoor activities may be cancelled if weather conditions create unsafe travel or facility conditions.

Lightning & Thunder

All outdoor activities will be suspended immediately if lightning or thunder is observed, or if the Perry Weather station issues a lightning alert (MAC only).
Participants must seek shelter in vehicles or nearby buildings (not tents, dugouts, or shelters).
Activities may resume only after a 30-minute period without lightning or thunder or once the Perry Weather alert system gives the “all clear.” Each new occurrence restarts the 30-minute waiting period.

Heat Guidelines

If the heat index reaches 105°F or higher, all outdoor youth activities will be cancelled or moved indoors if possible.
Below 105°F, decisions are based on factors such as activity type, age of participants, access to water, and shade.

Notifications & Updates

Weather-related decisions are communicated through RainoutLine: 757-890-3501.
Weekday decisions will be made by 2:00 p.m. and weekend decisions by 7:00 a.m.
Conditions that change after posted times will be updated as needed.