How Decisions Are Made

The pool manager on duty makes all weather-related closure decisions, in coordination with the board when time allows. In an active weather situation, the manager’s call is final and is not subject to discussion at the gate. These decisions are never taken lightly, but they are sometimes necessary.

Pool status is posted on the Chestnut Oaks website in the top right corner, near pool hours. In the event of a weather closure, a very early closure, or a long-delayed opening, we will often also send an email to members and post to social media.

No refunds or credits are issued for weather-related closures.

Lightning and Thunder

If thunder is heard or lightning is seen, the pool and pool deck are cleared and the facility closes for a minimum of 30 minutes. The 30-minute clock restarts with each new occurrence.

CORA also monitors lightning strikes online. A strike within 7 miles of the pool clears the pool and deck for the same 30-minute period, with the same reset rule.

When the pool is cleared for lightning, members must leave the deck entirely. Safe shelter means a fully enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle.

Lightning can travel well ahead of a storm and strike with blue skies. Our goal is to keep staff and members safe from storms that can build and arrive very quickly in a Virginia summer. We will do our best to alert members to approaching weather so that disruptions aren’t always a surprise.

Heat

CORA uses “real feel” (heat index) temperatures to keep staff and members safe. If our lifeguards cannot stay alert and healthy in the heat, they cannot keep you safe in the water. We use the OSHA Heat Safety Tool app and the National Weather Service heat index chart to guide our processes and best practices.

As temperatures climb, we will err on the side of rotating guards more frequently and calling adult swims more often–every hour at 0:45) so that guards can rest and rehydrate.

At an extended heat index of 110°F or higher, the pool closes from 1:00pm to 5:00pm and reopens at 5:00pm, weather permitting. This reduces exposure during peak sun and temperature. The manager checks the heat index at 11:00am; if the forecast index will reach 110°F, the closure is announced before 12:00pm so members have notice.

We also consider water temperature. When the water reaches 88°F or higher, it provides very little cooling to swimmers. Water at or above 88°F is a factor in the manager’s mid-day closure decision. We will always err on the side of keeping staff and members safe in extreme heat.

If a swimmer appears to be affected by the heat, lifeguards may ask that swimmer to leave the water to be checked and, if needed, treated for heat illness.

Delayed Opening

CORA may delay opening after overnight or early-morning weather. The pool does not open until debris is cleared, water chemistry is verified, and the bottom of the deep end is clearly visible. If those conditions cannot be met, the pool remains closed for the day.

The pool will also open late, or not at all, if the air temperature is below 70°F at the scheduled opening time.

Early Closure

The pool may close early for any of the following:

Lightning within 7 miles when the storm line is not passing, or repeated resets that make reopening impractical
Heavy rain that destroys water clarity
High wind (see Specific Conditions, below)
Tornado warning
Power outage
Air quality at AQI 151 or higher
An approaching tropical system

An early closure is different from a routine 30-minute lightning hold. It is the call that conditions will not improve enough to reopen.

Full-Day Closure

The pool will not open at all for:

A named storm, hurricane watch, or hurricane warning
Flooding or floodwater intrusion into the pool
An extended power outage
Sustained hazardous air quality
Any contamination event requiring a shock-and-hold cycle

In a flood or hurricane scenario, all loose furniture, umbrellas, and equipment are secured in advance. The pool will not be drained ahead of flooding — an empty pool shell can be lifted out of the ground by groundwater pressure. If floodwater enters the pool, the water is treated as contaminated and the pool remains closed until it has been shocked, tested, and cleared to reopen.

Specific Conditions

Water Clarity

If lifeguards cannot see the bottom of the pool, they cannot see swimmers, and the pool must close.

High Wind

Umbrellas and lounge chairs can become projectiles.

Umbrellas come down and loose furniture is secured at sustained winds of 20 mph, or whenever a storm is approaching.
The pool closes at sustained winds of 25 mph or gusts of 40 mph. Loose furniture is dangerous and can quickly become a projectile.

Tornado

During a tornado watch, we will alert members and monitor conditions. During a tornado warning, the pool closes immediately and members should go home or to a substantial building — the pool facility is not a tornado shelter. In the event there is little time to react, the restrooms should be used for shelter.

Air Quality

We use the AirNow.gov reading for the Richmond area, checked at 10:00am and again at 2:00pm.

AQI 101–150 (Code Orange): the pool stays open. We will post an advisory and rotate guards more frequently. Members with respiratory conditions should use their own judgment. At 125+ we will call adult swim every hour at the 45 minute mark, for fifteen minutes.
AQI 151 or higher (Code Red): the pool closes. Wildfire smoke is the most common cause of Code Red air in our area.