Welcome to the California Weather Policy Guide, a handy resource for the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) weather policies for athletics in California. We’ve made it simple: here’s the key information you need.
The following Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) regulations are specifically for outdoor practices. All charted information below is based on regulations by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for 2024-2025, effective July 1, 2024.
Schools must invest in WBGT monitoring tools like handheld monitors or weather stations to take WBGT readings.
Schools must schedule outdoor practices during cooler times, like early morning or late evening, with frequent breaks and shade.
Schools must postpone or cancel practices and/or competitions during extreme heat.
Coaches, athletic trainers, and athletes must be trained to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Student-athletes who display signs of heat illness must be removed from a practice or game and may not return until they have written clearance from a health care provider.
California is divided into Class 1, 2, and 3 zones, with zones with higher temperatures acclimatizing faster compared to the cooler zones.
Here’s what the CIF has mandated:
All schools must have cooling zones where the WBGT is 80°F or higher. Cooling zones must have cold-water immersion options for rapid cooling.
Schools must have ice baths or special cooling wraps on hand to treat heat stroke and other heat illnesses.
Coaches must provide unlimited access to water throughout practice. Rest breaks should focus on rehydration and rest only, with no activity.
Outdoor fall sports have a five-day warm-up and acclimatization period. Practices will be shorter with limited gear for the first few days.
Intensity and duration of exercise should be gradually increased over a period of 7-14 days.
For athletic trainers and directors prioritizing athlete safety, Perry Weather offers precise on-site wet bulb globe temperature monitoring.
Guide your coaches and staff in taking the right actions with hyper-local WBGT monitoring and alerts tailored to your heat stress policies.
Accurate WBGT offers a more precise understanding of real-world conditions than heat index, ensuring safety and informed decision-making for all outdoor activities.
Automatic WBGT measurements are instantly recorded and stored, ensuring you stay compliant without the tediousness and potential errors of traditional manual methods.
We translate data into practical steps based on heat stress policies and local regulations – from hydration reminders to activity adjustments, we ensure safety first.
Automatic instructive alerts and warnings are triggered based on your policies, keeping you compliant and confident in your decision-making so everyone on your staff knows what to do when WBGT levels are high.
Automated Warnings: Push notifications and text message alerts with automatic action instructions once WBGT threshold is breached
Custom Quiet Times: Pause notifications during weekends or nighttime, ensuring disturbance-free periods for when practices and games aren’t taking place
Configurable Settings: Configure specific user and warnings settings that fit your organization’s needs
Get heat and WBGT risk updates based on your policies, so you’re not caught by surprise and are able to adjust outdoor activities accordingly.
Set customized alerts to be notified when WBGT levels reach critical thresholds, ensuring timely action to protect athletes from heat-related illnesses.
Our team stays up-to-date on evolving state regulations to help schools and athletic trainers implement heat stress guidelines effectively.
Although the California Interscholastic Federation doesn’t have any set guidelines for lightning safety, here are recommendations from the National Federation of High School Activities (NFHSA) on what to do if a thunderstorm is imminent:
Assign staff to monitor local weather conditions before and during practices and contests.
Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby safer areas and determine the amount of time needed to get everyone to a designated safer area.
When thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safer location immediately.
Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed* prior to resuming play.
Any subsequent thunder or lightning* after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.
Perry Weather’s lightning detection and alerts system gives you clear, actionable instructions aligned with your lightning safety policies.
We’ll notify you as soon as lightning is detected with automated alerts. We guide you through immediate actions, keeping your athletes safe and practices on track.
Automatic alerts and real-time data for informed decision-making during critical weather events.
Know exactly when it’s safe to step out after a lightning strike with Perry Weather’s lightning countdown timers.
When a lightning strike is detected nearby, Perry Weather initiates a countdown until given the all-clear and resuming outdoor activities.
The timer resets with each subsequent strike, ensuring adherence to lightning safety protocols before resuming activities
Stay a step ahead with advanced radar and predictive lightning risk management for confident event planning and adaptive scheduling.
Get custom PA alerts and audible alarms with our lightning warning system.
Instantly broadcast alerts and safety messages automatically across your campus – no matter the weather conditions.
Strobe lights, loud alarms, and text-to-speech make sure you won’t miss lightning alerts.
It works even during power outages, ensuring continuous safety without needing a direct power source.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) encourages the use of a weather monitoring device to track Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which is a more accurate measure of heat stress than standard temperature readings. By using a wet bulb globe temperature monitor, trainers can follow CIF heat stress guidelines and adjust practice schedules accordingly.
By using weather monitoring software, schools can set up automated alerts for lightning, WBGT thresholds, and extreme weather. This reduces the burden of manual tracking and ensures CIF policies are enforced consistently.
Monitoring WBGT is essential for protecting athletes’ health and safety during outdoor practices, games, and events.
A higher WBGT reading leads to a greater risk of heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and muscle cramps.
Heat acclimatization is your body’s way of adapting to hot environments.
By gradually increasing your workload or exposure time in hot conditions over 1-2 weeks, you can significantly improve your heat tolerance.
This reduces the risk of heat stress and allows you to perform better in hot weather.
There are two main ways heat illness can strike:
1. Classic Heat Illness: This is caused by your environment’s impact on your body’s ability to cool down. Think high temperatures, humidity, direct sun, and no breeze.
2. Exertional Heat Illness (EHI): This one focuses on your own internal heat production. It can happen even in mild weather if you push yourself too hard.
Imagine heat stress as a warning light on your body’s dashboard. If heat stress isn’t addressed, it can progress to heat illness. This is a medical emergency where the body can no longer cool itself down effectively. It can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Read more here.
To measure WBGT, use a scientifically approved WBGT meter. The best way to measure it is by using Perry Weather’s advanced weather monitoring platform.
A safe shelter is any frequently inhabited building with four solid walls (not a dugout), electrical and telephone wiring, and plumbing, which aid in grounding the structure.
Yes. Lightning victims do not carry a residual electrical charge. However, prioritize checking for injuries and call emergency services immediately.
Some policies allow for designated “safe havens” under sturdy structures like bleachers (away from metal supports) or inside enclosed vehicles with the windows rolled up. However, this is a last resort.
Responsibilities may vary, but typically coaches, athletic trainers, and officials share the responsibility for monitoring weather conditions and enforcing safety procedures.
Watch how schools across California are using Perry Weather to comply with state weather policies and keep their campuses safe.
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