09/03/2026
As more states, schools, and worksites adopt and implement WBGT to monitor environmental heat stress, we’re seeing more questions about what the numbers actually mean.
And honestly? We get it. If you’re used to looking at the thermometer or the Heat Index, a WBGT reading can be confusing at first.
A 90°F day does not necessarily mean the same thing for an athlete practicing on a sunny field, a worker in direct sun, or someone sitting in the shade with a breeze.
That’s because ambient temperature, Heat Index, and WBGT measure different things.
The goal of using WBGT isn’t to make athletes “soft.” It isn’t to eliminate practice or outdoor work. And it isn’t to avoid heat altogether.
It’s about understanding the environment and making better decisions about how people work and perform in it.
Check out the graphic to see why WBGT is the best method for monitoring environmental heat stress during activity.
Same air temperature. Different conditions. Different heat stress.
