The first thing that hits you when you step off the plane in Kansas is the intense heat and humidity. It washes over you like a wave as you descend the aircraft steps onto the tarmac.
Extreme Weather Conditions
The weather has been so extreme over the past few days that a tornado warning was in place from Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday. This warning came three days before England's scheduled arrival on Saturday, with a thunderstorm also forecast for that day.
This World Cup is already characterized by extremes in heat and humidity, with the promise of more to come. If England advance to the last 16, they are seeded to face Mexico in the iconic Azteca Stadium, the site of Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal in 1986. There, Harry Kane and his team—already showing signs of sunburn in Florida—will face the additional challenge of altitude.
Preparedness and Safety Measures
Major buildings in Kansas City are equipped with tornado evacuation rooms to protect the population. Experts say the problem has been exacerbated by global warming and the El Nino effect. Tornado warnings are taken very seriously here; it was noticeable how few people were on the downtown streets while the warning was in effect.
Members of the Football Supporters Association who visited Mexico City on a recent reconnaissance trip noted that the effects of altitude were as pronounced as the heat. With temperatures of 35°C and high humidity in Kansas for the next three weeks, England will at least become accustomed to the extremes this tournament presents. However, they will face some of the toughest conditions yet to win the biggest World Cup in history.
Heat Index and Player Safety
Texas experiences some of the highest temperatures in the US, so England fans will feel the heat at the opening game against Croatia. The forecast is for 30°C and above during the day, but the 'feels like' temperature is expected to approach 40°C, according to experts.
The Dallas stadium is one of the World Cup venues with a retractable roof and air-conditioning, which will make the game much more comfortable and safer for players and fans. However, according to the heat index used by FIFA to measure how temperature affects human health—called the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT)—a value above 28°C (82°F) is widely considered the threshold at which heat is a significant concern for elite athletes.
On Monday, the WBGT is forecast to be around 30°C in Miami, representing a high-risk or extreme environment that Fifpro considers unsafe for play. Storms are also in the forecast. If storms develop within eight miles of a World Cup stadium, the match must be suspended for at least 30 minutes. This allows players, officials, and fans to seek shelter and stay safe from the threat of lightning. Play can resume 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in the area.
