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Young 49ers fans wait for autographs in the heat before a game at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara in October 2024. Temperatures in the 80s \u2014 potentially reaching 90 \u2014 are forecast for Saturday\u2019s World Cup match between Qatar and Switzerland.<\/p>\n
Scott Strazzante\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
The Bay Area\u2019s first World Cup match in three decades will be a hot one.<\/p>\n
Temperatures at Levi\u2019s Stadium are forecast to soar into the 80s \u2014 and potentially reaching 90 degrees \u2014 during Saturday\u2019s match between Qatar and Switzerland.<\/p>\n
With a noon kickoff, the match will be played in direct sunshine. Levi\u2019s Stadium has limited shade and often bakes during fall afternoon San Francisco 49ers games. The sun is much higher in early June, near the summer solstice.<\/p>\n
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\u201cEven if air temperatures are only in the 80s, sitting in direct sunlight for two or more hours can significantly increase heat exposure,\u201d said Dr. Heather Taher, an emergency medicine physician at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose. \u201cFans should stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and light-colored clothing, and seek shade when possible. Anyone who develops dizziness, headache, nausea or confusion should move to a cooler area and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santa Clara is one of the trickiest locations to forecast in the Bay Area because of its proximity to San Francisco Bay. If winds flip and a cool bay breeze develops, temperatures will remain in the 80s at Levi\u2019s Stadium throughout Saturday\u2019s match. But there\u2019s a chance the breeze holds off until after 2\u00a0p.m. If that happens, temperatures could reach 90 degrees during the second half.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The National Weather Service did not officially have a heat advisory in effect for the South Bay on Saturday\u00a0\u2014 the current advisory ends Friday evening\u00a0\u2014 but the agency acknowledged that temperatures could rise.<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s World Cup match is a unique event for Levi\u2019s Stadium from a weather and sports standpoint, coming during the afternoon heat just before the summer solstice.<\/p>\n Carlos Avila Gonzalez\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n \u201cOur biggest concerns are this first match, because we have lingering heat,\u201d said Dylan Flynn, a meteorologist at the weather service\u2019s Bay Area office. \u201cWe probably won\u2019t have a heat advisory, but lingering heat and it\u2019s in the middle of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n FIFA announced all World Cup matches<\/a> will include a three-minute water break in each half, regardless of the weather, to \u201censure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s a break from tradition for FIFA, which typically reserves hydration breaks for the hottest and muggiest games. Saturday\u2019s weather will be much different from the climate of the competing nations. The average June high temperature in Doha, Qatar, is a humid 105 degrees, while Zurich is a mild 69 degrees.<\/p>\n There is a 17% chance that heat impacts player performance during the Switzerland-Qatar match, according to\u00a0Climate Central<\/a>, a nonprofit science organization. That was made 2% more likely by climate change.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen temperatures rise, particularly in direct sun, the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke increases,\u201d Dr. Taher said. \u201cAthletes can also experience decreased performance as the body works harder to regulate its temperature.\u201d<\/p>\n Matches in Kansas City, Mo., and Miami, along with Guadalajara and\u00a0Monterrey in Mexico, face a higher risk of performance-impacting heat \u2014 defined as temperatures above 82 degrees \u2014 than Santa Clara, according to Climate Central. But the risk of heat is higher at Levi\u2019s Stadium than in Seattle, Toronto and Boston.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n