Even with the seasons changing, temperature related stress is still a very real risk for fall athletic teams in the Southwest. Most of the days in Southern California are still averaging around 85 degrees, and in places like Phoenix, the weather forecast predicts temperatures around 90 degrees through the end of October. These temperatures may be comfortable for most of us, but for the athlete they can cause heat stress in combination with higher heart rate and rising body temperature. On the opposite side of the country, some sports teams are already playing in the snow and face the risk of hypothermia.
