St. Cloud State University Meteorology students will get hands-on experience providing onsite weather analysis and forecasts for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in the Twin Cities next week.
SCSU Associate Professor Dr. Rachel Humphrey will be joined by eight students in taking regular on-site measurements of temperature and humidity to assess whether conditions are safe for athletes to compete, and they will also predict severe or hazardous weather.
With over 100,000 fans and participants expected between locations on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and the National Sports Center in Blaine, students will have the chance to provide meaningful forecasts that have a direct effect on the coordination of this high-profile event.
“This project will give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of atmospheric science in a real-world setting,” Humphrey said. “They will be able to see the firsthand impact of their forecasts and analyses.”
Students will give three weather briefings per day during 12-hour shifts. They will be responsible for launching weather balloons and analyzing the atmosphere, and then distilling the information gathered so it can be explained to event and safety staff.
“Students will also get to use instruments designed to specifically measure WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which is a characteristic of the atmosphere they have not measured before,” Humphrey added. “WBGT measures the heat stress in direct sunlight by accounting for temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover.”
In the leadup to the Games, event organizers reached out to SCSU, which boasts the only meteorology program in Minnesota, for student participants to take on the roles of forecasting, data collection and weather analysis.
The National Weather Service Twins Cities will also be involved in working with SCSU students.
“It’s a really nice way of making connections through student learning and seeing how the National Weather Service is involved with events,” Humphrey said. “It will be a good learning experience for everyone involved.”
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games run from June 20-26.
