Heat index and athletic effects

Heat index is the feels like temperature, a combination of the air temperature and the relative humidity. We all when the air is more humid, there are more water molecules in the air. We also know that on hot days like this, your body produces sweat to cool down. The sweat evaporating off of you is what cools you down, but when humidity is very high, it is hard for the sweat to evaporate as fast. The heat index combines temperature and humidity to see how hard it will be to cool down just by normal body heat regulation, and when values get high enough, it becomes near impossible to cool down without any outside help. Make sure you have ways to stay hydrated and stay cool as we are going through this week.

Lots of sports are starting to practice for their fall season, football, soccer, and cross country just to name a few. But with high heat index values through this week, it is imperative that anyone participating in after-school activities finds ways to stay cool. We usually see the warmest temperatures of the day in the mid-afternoon, likely when practices are starting. Like we’ve been saying, staying hydrated is key, to make sure you have fluids to sweat out and stay cool that way. Potentially moving practice inside also wouldn’t be a bad idea, if that is possible. Wearing light colored, lightweight, or loose clothing can also help mitigate heat impacts. We have a major heat risk for Tuesday, with a high risk for heat related illnesses for much of the population without protective action so make sure you are taking steps to avoid dehydration or heat exhaustion.