Iowa WBGT Heat Rules

Iowa is the state that remembered the band. Its WBGT guidance is issued jointly by the two athletic associations and the music and speech associations, so marching band and cheerleading get their own modification rows instead of being left to guess.

Recommended, not mandated — read the wording carefully

Iowa's document approves WBGT as "the recommended measurement practice and device", and says: "The use of WBGT is recommended throughout the calendar year when the ambient temperature is above 80 degrees (indoors or outdoors)." That is guidance, not a mandate, and this site says so rather than overstating it. Your conference or district may still require it.

The thresholds below are Iowa's, and they apply statewide: the associations state that "Category 2 is where Iowa is at and how we derived our numbers for our policy." Those Category 2 boundaries are the same set Texas uses for its Class 2 counties — the same national region system, reached independently.

The guidance applies year-round whenever ambient air temperature is above 80 °F — indoors or outdoors. A hot gym counts.

Activity guidelines by WBGT (°F), grades 9-12

WBGT (°F)Required modifications
GREEN < 79.7
  • Normal activities.
  • At least 3 separate rest/water breaks each hour, 3–5 min each.
YELLOW 79.8 – 84.6
  • Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk participants closely.
  • At least 3 separate rest/water breaks each hour, 4–6 min each.
  • Mandatory on-site rapid cooling zone (tub or tarp).
ORANGE 84.7 – 87.6
  • Maximum practice time: 120 min.
  • At least 4 separate rest/water breaks each hour, 4–6 min each.
  • Football: helmet, shoulder pads and shorts only.
  • Mandatory on-site rapid cooling zone (tub or tarp).
RED 87.7 – 89.7
  • Maximum practice time: 60 min.
  • At least 20 min of rest breaks distributed through each hour.
  • Football: no protective equipment.
  • No conditioning activities.
  • Mandatory on-site rapid cooling zone (tub or tarp).
BLACK > 89.7
  • No outdoor workouts. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT is reached.

One boundary quirk: the table prints "< 79.7" and then "79.8 – 84.6", leaving the boundary value itself unassigned. This site resolves that gap upward — it reads as the yellow flag.

Iowa tells you not to use a weather app

From the associations' own FAQ: "Using local news weather forecasts, weather apps on your phone or smart device do NOT provide an accurate temperature for where your conducting your outdoor or non climate controlled activity." That is the honest case against using a tool like this one as your reading — a forecast cannot see your turf, your shade, or your stadium bowl.

How Iowa says to take the reading

Set the device up at the venue 15–20 minutes ahead so it can acclimatize, 3 feet off the ground, away from obstructions, in the sun — and on the turf if that is where you are practising. Then read it every 30 minutes, with the same person monitoring throughout.

Marching band and cheerleading

Iowa's appendix gives band and cheer their own rules: at the orange band, half uniform only — no long sleeves or long pants — and move practice onto grass rather than turf or concrete. At the red band, out of uniform: shorts, t-shirts and footwear only, and no conditioning. At the black band, outdoor activity stops.

All thresholds and modification text above derive from the joint IHSAA / IGHSAU / IHSMA / IHSSA WBGT Heat Modification Guidance, cross-checked on 2026-08-09. Iowa IHSAA/IGHSAU/IHSMA/IHSSA WBGT Heat Modification Guidance (8.5.24)

wbgtcheck.com is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the UIL, GHSA, NFHS, NATA, or any state athletic association.