On any given weekend, the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is a sea of activity.
The 60-acre Texas-based facility hosts some of the largest youth and adult soccer tournaments in the region—often accommodating up to 500 teams at once.
For Bobby Jaffe, the Operations Coordinator, keeping players safe and tournaments on schedule in the middle of unpredictable Texas weather is a responsibility he takes seriously.
“In Texas, we can experience three different seasons in one day,” Bobby says. “We might have rain in the morning, clear skies by noon, and 100-plus degrees in the afternoon.”
When you’re dealing with that kind of weather volatility—plus thousands of players, spectators, and staff—relying on a free weather app just doesn’t cut it.
The Challenge: The Sunny Day Lightning Strike
Before switching to Perry Weather, the facility used WeatherBug to monitor local weather conditions. But the limitations were clear.
“It just wasn’t precise,” Bobby explains. “It gave us a general idea of the area, but not what was happening at our fields. We needed something more accurate—something on-site.”
That accuracy matters most when it comes to lightning. Round Rock’s weather policy requires clearing fields for any lightning within a 10-mile radius.
But when skies are sunny and teams don’t see storm clouds, they question the delays—especially if they don’t understand where the data is coming from.
“We’ve had days with lightning three miles away and completely blue skies overhead,” Bobby says. “Teams ask, ‘Why are you clearing the fields?’ When they see what we see on the Perry Weather platform, it helps them understand we’re not guessing. We’re acting on real-time data.”
Lightning’s Coming. The App Told Him Before the Sky Did
With lightning detection powered by the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), Round Rock gets real-time lightning alerts with 99.9% uptime.
This makes Perry Weather’s lightning alerts not only faster and more precise, but also more resilient in extreme conditions.
“Being able to see the lightning radius, storm movement, and radar at a glance gives us an edge,” says Bobby.
“We can make decisions faster—and we can explain those decisions to our tournament directors in real time.”
Their on-site Perry Weather station, meanwhile, gives them accurate readings for wet bulb globe temperature, wind, and rainfall—critical for extreme heat and heavy rain events, which are common in Central Texas.
Critical On-Field Decision Support with the Perry Weather App
The Round Rock team isn’t glued to their desks. They’re on the field, managing logistics, checking turf conditions, and coordinating with referees.
For them, mobile access isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s essential.
“The app is huge. I’m out on the field and can pull it up instantly,” Bobby says. “Our painter was using the app while striping the fields during a storm—he saw he had 6 minutes and was able to wrap up in time. That kind of heads-up matters.”
The platform doesn’t just protect athletes and visitors—it also helps keep on-site staff safe during weather threats.
Meteorologist Access = Confident Calls
Bobby isn’t a trained meteorologist, but thanks to Perry Weather’s 24/7 support, he doesn’t have to be.
“There are times when lightning is hovering around the edge of our 10-mile policy zone,” he explains. “I’ll reach out to Perry Weather’s meteorologists and ask: How long do you think it’ll linger? Which direction is it trending?”
That professional insight allows Bobby to communicate proactively with directors, vendors, and teams, giving them accurate forecasts rather than vague estimates.
“It helps us avoid guesswork. Instead of just saying, ‘We’re in a delay,’ I can say, ‘We expect to resume in 40 minutes once the system clears to the east.’ That makes a big difference.”
Live Field Camera: “What’s Going On Out There?”
Every morning, Bobby’s day starts early—and often before sunrise. With the integrated Perry Weather camera, he can get a real-time view of field conditions before even stepping outside.
“If it’s raining or the fields are flooded, I can see it right away,” he says. “It’s simple, but super useful—especially during early starts or when storms roll through overnight.”
Proactive Communication = Smoother Events
The Perry Weather platform isn’t just a tool for the operations team—it’s part of the communication strategy with event organizers and teams.
Round Rock shares access to weather data with tournament directors, which reduces confusion and improves cooperation when delays are necessary.
“We lay out our weather policy from the very first conversation,” Bobby says. “And when delays happen, they can see the same data we’re seeing. That transparency builds trust.”
The Outcome: Safer Tournaments, Less Stress
With Perry Weather, Bobby and his team have transformed how they handle weather—from reactive to proactive, from unclear to confident.
“It’s about having the right tools and the right data, so we can make the right call—and keep everyone safe.”
And when you’re managing hundreds of teams across a massive facility, that clarity is everything.
See How Perry Weather Can Help Your Facility
Whether you’re running a soccer complex, tournament series, or a multi-field athletic campus, Perry Weather helps you stay ahead of lightning, heat, storms, and delays—with real-time alerts, meteorologist support, and automation that keeps everyone safe and informed.
Try Perry Weather for free with a 14-day trial of Perry Weather—and see how it helps you protect your people, streamline decisions, and spend less time worrying about the weather.
