Welcome to the Nevada Weather Policy Guide, a handy resource for understanding the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s (NIAA) weather policies for athletics. We’ve made it simple: here’s the information you need.
NIAA requires all schools to monitor WBGT every 30 minutes during practices.
Schools should follow activity guidelines for the regional category (Cat 1, 2, or 3) in which they are located.
Nevada schools generally fall in Cat 2 or Cat 3. If WBGT is unavailable, NIAA does follow a Heat Index backup protocol with specific practice modifications at each level.
NIAA requires all schools to monitor WBGT every 30 minutes during practices.
Schools should follow activity guidelines for the regional category (Cat 1, 2, or 3) in which they are located.
Nevada schools generally fall in Cat 2 or Cat 3. If WBGT is unavailable, NIAA does follow a Heat Index backup protocol with specific practice modifications at each level.
Normal Activities. Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of 3 min each during the workout.
Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise. Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of 4 min each.
Maximum practice time is 2 hours. For Football: Players are restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice. If the WBGT rises to this level during practice, players may continue to work out wearing football pants without changing to shorts. For All Sports: Provide at least four separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of 4 min each.
Maximum practice time is 1 hour. For Football: No protective equipment may be worn during practice, and there may be no conditioning activities. For All Sports: There must be 20 min of rest breaks distributed throughout the hour of practice.
No outdoor workouts. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT is reached.
Source: NIAA Exertional Heat Illness Guidelines: Fall 2026.
To keep students, youth and athletes safe, the following are required:
All schools should have a WBGT device. Each school designates a trained person (athletic trainer, AD, or coach) to monitor before practices and contests. All readings recorded and stored.
Required when WBGT is above the Green zone. Must include cold-water or ice tub. Must be set up within 5–10 minutes prior to practice/competition, as close to the field as possible.
Standard of care for suspected exertional heat stroke. Cool First, Transport Second. EMS must be notified of this protocol annually before first practice.
Must include procedures for exertional heat emergencies and rapid cooling. EMS called immediately for suspected EHS but cooling begins first.
Required before competition. Medical history must screen for heat illness risk factors
Strongly recommended before, during, and after all practices during the acclimatization period.
NIAA’s acclimatization protocol applies to ALL sports not just football. Every athlete must complete the full heat acclimatization period before competition regardless of sport.
Walk-through up to 1 hour with 3-hour recovery gap. For sports requiring helmets or shoulder pads: helmets are the only protective gear permitted.
Only helmets and shoulder pads may be worn. Contact with blocking sleds and tackling dummies may begin.
Full contact and 100% live contact drills may begin. Max 3 hrs per practice, 5 hrs total. Double days require a rest day after and at least 3 hours in a cool environment between sessions.
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 that are triggered based on your policies, keeping you compliant and confident in your decision-making so everyone on your staff knows exactly 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.
The WBGT is a comprehensive measure that combines air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat, and air movement to assess heat stress conditions. Read more about WBGT here.
Wet bulb globe temperature in a nutshell is a more in-depth heat stress measurement taking into account more of the environment (Direct sunlight, water vapor capacity, cloud coverage, etc.). Read more about the differences between WBGT and the heat index here.
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.
Exertional heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a medical emergency. It occurs when your body overheats (usually above 104°F or 40°C) and can no longer cool itself down. This is often caused by strenuous physical activity in hot and humid conditions.
Wet bulb globe temperature involves measuring three temperatures: dry bulb, wet bulb, and globe. Read more here.
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.
The following guidelines are based on recommendations by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS):
Assign staff to monitor weather conditions before/during practices and games.
Create an evacuation plan, identify nearby safer areas, and estimate travel time to them.
When thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Pause play for at least 30 minutes and head to the previously designated safer location immediately.
Once play has been paused, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is seen* to resume play.
Any subsequent thunder or lightning* during the 30-minute countdown should reset the clock, starting a new 30-minute countdown.
Inform athletes and parents of the lightning policy at start of the season.
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.
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.
Responsibilities may vary, but typically coaches, athletic trainers, and officials share the responsibility for monitoring weather conditions and enforcing safety procedures.
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.
Watch how schools across the country are using Perry Weather to comply with state weather policies and keep their campuses safe.
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