Policy for Weather and Air Quality for Practices and Events

Special Olympics Northern California (SONorCal) will prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all athletes, volunteers, staff and attendees at all practices, competitions and other events, including providing guidance and implementing certain protocols when weather conditions warrant action.

Practices, competitions and events may be delayed, modified, or canceled in the event of hazardous environmental conditions. SONorCal representatives will make decisions in consultation with safety officers and local weather data sources (e.g., NOAA, NWS, AccuWeather, etc.).

The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature. To find the Heat Index temperature, look at the Heat Index Chart below or use the Heat Index Calculator.

SONorCal Staff, Competition Directors and Head Coaches, for practices, competitions and other events, using the categories below, will:

• Yellow (Caution) – Monitor conditions and recommend limited exposure to sun and wind
• Light Orange (Extreme Caution) – Monitor conditions, recommend limited exposure to sun and wind, and provide additional water and shade breaks
• Dark Orange (Danger) – Modify schedules, recommend limited exposure to sun and wind, provide additional water and shade breaks and encourage those in sensitive groups to terminate participation
• Red (Extreme Danger – Cancel, postpone or delay practices, competitions or other events until the Heat Index level lowers
  

The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) is the Environmental Protection Agency’s tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six color-coded categories, each corresponding to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.

SONorCal Staff, Competition Directors and Head Coaches, for practices, competitions and other events, using the categories below, will:

• Green (Good) – Allow all planned activities
• Yellow (Moderate) – Allow all planned activities, monitor AQI at airnow.gov and recommend those unusually sensitive to air pollution modify their activity
• Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) – Monitor conditions, allow all planned activities and recommend those in sensitive groups modify their activity
• Red (Unhealthy) – Modify schedules, move activities indoors (if possible), and encourage those impacted to discontinue participation
• Purple (Very Unhealthy) & Maroon (Hazardous) – Cancel, postpone or delay practice, competitions or other events until the AQI lowers

Cold temperatures, wind chill and other winter weather patterns, including those accompanied by rain, snow, sleet, hail or other possible hazardous cold-related conditions, can occur in certain geographic regions of the program or under other circumstances.

SONorCal Staff, Competition Directors and Head Coaches, for practices, competitions and other events, using the categories below, will:

• 32°F and Above – Monitor conditions for all activities
• 32-20°F – Monitor temperature and wind conditions (see Windchill Chart below), modify schedules, recommend limited exposure time to cold and/or wind, provide shelter (if available), and alert participants to watch for signs of hypothermia (see graphic below)
• 20-0°F – Limit events to under 1 hour with 15-minute warm-up breaks, cancel or postpone activities, or move activities indoors (if possible)
• Below 0°F or Wind Chill Advisory/Warning in effect – Cancel or move event indoors

Regardless of other existing weather conditions, should lightning be detected within 10 miles of the outdoor practice, competition or event, SONorCal Staff, Competition Directors and Head Coaches, will:

• Stop all activities and instruct all participants to seek shelter
• Direct participants to shelter in a safe building (one with a roof, plumbing and electrical wiring), or an enclosed vehicle if a building is not available
  • Sports dugouts, shacks, sheds, porches and tents are NOT safe locations during a lightning storm
• Monitor lightning and weather conditions using a reliable weather app (AccuWeather) and/or battery- or crank-operated NOAA weather radio
• Not resume activities until at least 30 minutes after lightning was last detected within 10 miles, lightning was last visually observed, or thunder was last heard

Source: National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-outdoors

SONorCal Staff, Competition Directors and Head Coaches will issue alerts via available communication methods, including Public Address, text, signage and social media, as applicable. For competitions and other events, updates will be provided at least on an hourly basis, or as needed, during severe conditions.