MAUMELLE, Ark. — A THV11 Weather Impact Alert for heat continues through Wednesday, just as schools kick off football practice. This year, coaches have a new way to check if it's safe to play.
At youth football practice Tuesday evening in Maumelle, the temperature was still reading 94 degrees, but it felt even hotter.
Dad and Maumelle high school football coach Brian Maupin was on the sidelines.
"We're just trying to make sure they have the hydration they need," Maupin said. "We trust the coaches and the youth program to schedule those breaks and take care of the boys."
He'll make those same decisions when high school fall camp kicks off next week.
"The first thing I'll do every morning when I get to the field houses is sit down with Dylan, our athletic trainer, and we will look at what's the current reading... the heat risk in the weather center, projecting for the times that will be there," Maupin said.
That heat risk is a new tool the National Weather Service started using in Arkansas this summer.
Christopher Buonanno is a science and operations officer at the National Weather Service in Little Rock and constantly assesses all that goes into a heat risk level.
"The different colors indicate the more dangerous area, especially the red and purple areas," Buonanno said. Warm temperatures will contribute to heat stress, but there are other factors, such as humidity, the amount of cloud cover, and the wind speed."
Then, meteorologists examine that data alongside specific locations and communities that might be the most at risk and issue a varying heat risk alert.
"It's always warm in the summer here in Arkansas," Buonanno said. "If we can refine scientifically the more dangerous areas, we could send a message to the folks in our Arkansas about what's more dangerous."
Adding another play to the game plan before coaches send their team out on the field.
"I don't want them scared of the heat," Maupin said. "I want us to be smart, so just balance that kind of intellectual approach rather than making it a macho man thing. We're just going to be smart about it."
Maupin also shared that the team has cold tubs ready to help cool players down after practice in addition to water breaks and time in the shade.