Weather Policy

Tomball ISD Weather Policy for Outdoor Activities

Tomball ISD establishes comprehensive safety protocols addressing heat, cold, and lightning risks to protect student-athletes and staff. The policy outlines heat illness action plans, which include monitoring Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), recognizing symptoms, and implementing rapid cooling or mitigation strategies based on specific tympanic temperature thresholds.

Cold weather protocols determine event postponements based on wind chill and precipitation conditions.

Additionally, a lightning monitoring system using Perry Weather Stations triggers suspensions when lightning is detected within an 8-mile range, with specific guidance on safe shelters and resumption criteria. When technological monitoring is unavailable, staff are instructed to use the "Flash-to-Bang" method to estimate lightning distance and ensure timely safety precautions.

Multi-Program Activity Center

New indoor facility for each high school to allow TISD to be in compliance with new UIL heat guidelines.

Learn more about Bond 2025.

Heat

Heat Guidelines

TISD will utilize Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measured with the Perry Weather Stations located at Tomball High School, Tomball Memorial High School, Tomball West High School and TISD Stadium.

Heat Illness Action Plan

Heat illness is a general term used to describe many conditions resulting from physical activity in an environment of extreme heat and/or humidity. These conditions are a result of the body becoming dehydrated and/or losing the ability to cool itself

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illness or Injury

Muscle cramps in the lower extremities and/or abdominal muscles
Continuous sweating
Thirst
Dizziness
Headache
Rapid, weak pulse

Nausea or vomiting
Fatigue
Syncope
Pale Skin
Reduced sweating
Disorientation

Tympanic Temperature	Actions
< 100.9ºF	Continue cooling the individual using heat mitigation strategies Continue evaluation to rule out other injuries or concerns Contact parent/guardian/emergency contact Re-check temperature every 5 minutes until it is within normal limits (WNL).
101ºF - 103ºF	Implement rapid cooling procedure Activate EAP Contact parent/guardian/emergency contact Re-check temperature every 5 minutes until it is within normal limits (WNL)
>103ºF	Any reading over 103 should be considered a heat injury and treated as an emergent situation. Implement rapid cooling procedure Activate EAP

Tympanic Temperature

Actions

< 100.9ºF

Continue cooling the individual using heat mitigation strategies
Continue evaluation to rule out other injuries or concerns
Contact parent/guardian/emergency contact
Re-check temperature every 5 minutes until it is within normal limits (WNL).

101ºF - 103ºF

Implement rapid cooling procedure
Activate EAP
Contact parent/guardian/emergency contact
Re-check temperature every 5 minutes until it is within normal limits (WNL)

>103ºF

**Any reading over 103 should be considered a heat injury and treated as an emergent situation. **

Implement rapid cooling procedure
Activate EAP

Heat Mitigation Strategies

The following heat mitigation strategies will be used and available to the student-athletes and staff of Tomball ISD.

Hydration

Replaces fluids lost through sweating, which is the body's primary cooling mechanism. Adequate fluid intake ensures this process can continue effectively.

Water will be readily available for all practices and games
Electrolyte-containing beverages (such as Gatorade) for prolonged or heavy sweating
Various rehydration solutions include Pedialyte, Drip Drop, Liquid IV, etc.

Shade

Shade reduces the amount of radiant heat absorbed by the body. Shaded areas should be available and set up for student-athlete cooling.

Cooling Mechanisms

A variety of cooling methods will be utilized, including, but not limited to:

Ice Packs - applying ice or cold packs to areas with superficial blood vessels ( armpits, groin, neck, etc.) helps to rapidly cool the circulating blood and can reduce core temperature.
Fans or A/C - circulating or moving air will work to improve the cooling by evaporating sweat

WBGT by Location

THS

TMHS

TWHS

TISD Stadium

Cold

Lightning

Weather Monitoring System

Through our Perry Weather Stations mounted at all three comprehensive high schools and at the Tomball ISD stadium, we have an accurate range of lightning and immediate notifications of nearby strikes.

Distance	Alert Level	Action
> 20 miles	Advisory	None
12-20 miles	Caution	Continue to monitor and inform coaches, officials, and administrators of potential delays.
< 8 miles	WARNING	Suspend all outdoor activity All students should be in a safe location Activity cannot resume until there has been no lightning with 8 miles for 30 minutes

Safe Locations

In the absence of a sturdy, frequently inhabited building, any vehicle with a hard metal roof (not a convertible or golf cart) and rolled-up windows can provide a measure of safety. A vehicle is certainly better than remaining outdoors.

Avoid being in or near

High places and open fields, isolated trees, unprotected gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, communications towers, flagpoles, light poles, bleachers (metal or wood), metal fences, convertibles, golf carts, water (ocean, lakes, swimming pools, rivers, etc.).

Resumption of Activities

Outdoor activities can resume when “All Clear” is issued in the Caution area and there has been no lightning detected within 8 miles in the previous 30 minutes.

If there is no cell service or an individual does not have access to Perry Weather then the Flash-to-Bang method is utilized.

Flash to Bang Method

To estimate the distance between you and a lightning flash, use the “Flash-to-Bang” method. The Flash-to-Bang method is the most reliable, easiest, and most convenient way to estimate how far away lightning is occurring. Thunder always accompanies lightning, even though its audible range can be diminished due to background noise in the immediate environment and its distance from the observer.

How to use Flash-to-Bang: Count the number of seconds, once lightning is sighted, until the thunder (bang) is heard. Divide by 5 to obtain how far away (in miles) the lightning is occurring.

Play is suspended as Flash-to-Bang method reaches 30 seconds. This indicates the lightning is at the 6-mile range. Lightning awareness should be increased with the first flash of lightning or the first clap of thunder, no matter how far away. This activity must be treated as a wake-up call to those monitoring inclement weather. The important aspect to monitor is how far away the lightning is occurring, and how fast the storm is approaching, relative to the distance of a safe shelter. As a minimum, the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NLSS) and NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports strongly recommend that by the time the observer obtains a Flash to Bang count of 30 seconds, all individuals should have left the athletics site and reached a safe structure or location. Athletic events may need to be terminated.

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