England's World Cup preparations face further disruption as the area of their training base in Kansas City has been placed under a tornado alert. The 2.2 million residents of the Kansas City Metropolitan area were warned of a possible tornado into the early hours of today. More concerning for the Three Lions, a thunderstorm is forecast for Saturday, the day they are due to fly into Kansas from Florida.
Training Session Under Threat
England is scheduled to hold their first training session at the Swope Park training facility on the outskirts of Kansas City shortly after arrival. This comes after fans endured freak weather and a torrential downpour in Florida before the team's convincing 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in their final warm-up game on Wednesday. The kick-off of that match was delayed by an hour due to storms, and further disruption to their schedule is unwelcome.
Preparedness Measures
Major buildings in Kansas City, including the international airport, are equipped with tornado evacuation rooms to protect the population. The National Weather Service advises that during a tornado watch, people should review emergency plans, check supplies, and have a safe room ready. If a tornado warning is issued, indicating a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar, residents should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
Experts attribute the extreme conditions to global warming and the El Nino effect. Summer thunderstorms are common in cities like Miami, Houston, and Atlanta, where warm, humid conditions trigger frequent afternoon and evening storms. If lightning is detected within 10 miles of a stadium, standard practice is to suspend play until 30 minutes after the last strike.
Corn Sweat and Humidity
The England squad will also face intense humidity and a phenomenon known as 'corn sweat' in Kansas. Average highs in the area reach 30-32°C (87°F–90°F). Corn sweat refers to the humidity caused by corn plants releasing water vapour through evapotranspiration, which can push dew points into the 70s and make outdoor work dangerous. According to locals, this turns average summer days into 'three-shirt days,' hindering human sweat evaporation and cooling.
Manager Thomas Tuchel chose the central US location to reduce travel time and prepare for a potential trip to Mexico City in later rounds. The Azteca stadium's altitude could provide the toughest conditions. In Kansas, corn sweat can raise humidity by 30-40% on a hot day.
Broader Weather Concerns
Heat, thunderstorms, and poor air quality from wildfires will be key factors in the tournament. In parts of the southern US and Mexico, daytime highs are typically in the low to mid-30s°C (mid-90s°F) and can reach 40°C (104°F). In Miami, a typical summer air temperature of 32°C (90°F) can feel like 43°C (109°F). In New York, host of the World Cup final on 19 July, a heatwave could bring air temperatures in the mid-30s°C (mid-90s°F).
