Jonesboro, Ark. — Persistent triple-digit temperatures in Northeast Arkansas are prompting changes to high school sports schedules, with coaches prioritizing athlete safety during the current heat wave.
Jonesboro Public Schools announced it is relying on heat-monitoring technology to determine appropriate adjustments. Athletic Director Trey Harding explained that a tool called the wet bulb globe thermometer is used to monitor conditions on the field every 15 minutes.
“It definitely brings challenges. We monitor the heat with a thing called the wet bulb globe thermometer. And that gives us five readings with five different categories, and that’s basically the temp, direct sunlight, heat index, and cloud cover,” Harding said.
The technology helps staff assess whether practices can proceed as scheduled, need to be shortened, moved indoors, or canceled altogether.
The unusually high temperatures have already led to changes for scheduled events. Kickoff times for junior high football games on Thursday have been adjusted due to safety concerns. According to Harding, additional schedule changes are being coordinated with other school districts, including discussions underway between Jonesboro and Hot Springs athletic directors to finalize game times.
According to the National Weather Service, high heat indices create dangerous conditions for outdoor activities, and local officials are urging extra precautions for students, coaches, and spectators during the heat wave.
Residents and families are encouraged to stay informed on further updates by checking with individual school districts for the latest schedule changes.