RAIN

We will largely play in the rain. If there is standing water on the fields we will not play or train on them. Often we have to wait for a decision from Parks and Rec regarding field usability, please call Parks and Rec rain line at –  406-552-6666 for closure information. We never want to use a field that might be damaged from usage during wet conditions.

THUNDER + LIGHTNING

When lightning strikes within 10 miles, we will clear the fields and wait for the weather to pass. If we get 30 minutes between lightning strikes within 10 miles, teams can resume play. The 30-minute clock restarts every time lightning flashes or thunder sounds and is within 10 miles of our training or games.

Below is the further information on lightning from the NCAA’s lightning policy. Please visit this site for more information.

5. Know where the closest “safer structure or location” is to every outdoor venue and know how long it will take to evacuate everyone to that safer location. A safer structure or location is defined as:

a. Any building normally occupied or frequently used by people, e.g., a building with plumbing and/or electrical wiring that acts to electrically ground the structure. Avoid the shower, plumbing facilities, contact with electrical appliances and open windows and doorways during a thunderstorm.

b. In the absence of a sturdy, frequently inhabited building, any vehicle with a hard metal roof (neither a convertible, nor a golf cart) with the windows shut provides a measure of safety. The hard metal frame and roof, not the rubber tires, are what protects occupants by dissipating lightning current around the vehicle and not through the occupants. It is important not to touch the metal framework of the vehicle. Some athletics events rent school buses to provide safer locations around open courses or fields.

Table 1. Flash to Bang Method

To estimate the distance between your location and a lightning flash, use the “Flash to Bang” method: If you observe lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear thunder. Divide the number of seconds by five to obtain the distance in miles. Example: If you see lightning and it takes 10 seconds before you hear the thunder, then the lightning is 2 miles away.

SNOW + COLD

We do not play with measurable snow on the ground (or frost).

20-32 Degrees

• Increase awareness with self and buddy checks 
• Wear appropriate layers and wind protection for the play location; if outside wear water resistant/proof clothing.
• Make sure that we are covering all of our extremities: Coat, appropriate pants, gloves, hats, wool socks, etc…
• Wear moisture wicking clothing or materials that will keep you warm when sweating: i.e. wool
• Limit outdoor training duration to 2 hours

10-20 Degrees 

• Increase awareness with self and buddy checks 
• Wear appropriate layers and wind protection for the play location; if outside wear water resistant/proof clothing.
• Make sure that we are covering all of our extremities: Coat, appropriate pants, gloves, hats, wool socks, etc…
• Wear moisture wicking clothing or materials that will keep you warm when sweating: i.e. wool
• Limit outdoor training duration to 90 minutes 

Below 10 Degrees 

• Suspend all outdoor club activities

SMOKE

If the smoke index rises to 150 or higher, all soccer events will be canceled. We use www.airnow.gov to monitor air quality. Missoula Parks and Rec may close fields due to smoke levels.

Missoula Parks and Rec

Missoula Parks and Rec has the responsibility to make decisions to keep all of their user groups safe and to protect the parks. This may mean that they decide to close fields to varying degrees and for many reasons, the most frequent reason being weather. I.e. Wind storms, Thunder storms, Lightning, heavy rain, snow, freezing rain, high heat, smoke, etc… If there is a closure they will notify us at Missoula Surf and we will pass along all closures to our teams. At no point should any team break a closure by training or playing on a field that is closed.