St. Cloud State Meteorology Students to Forecast Weather at Special Olympics Games

(KNSI) – Meteorology students from St. Cloud State University will get some hands-on experience at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in the Twin Cities this weekend.

Eight students will provide on-site forecasts and weather analysis for the games, joined by Associate Professor Rachel Humphrey to take temperature and humidity measurements and determine whether conditions are safe for athletes to compete. The National Weather Service’s Twin Cities office will also work alongside the students.

The students will work 12-hour shifts, delivering three weather briefings per day. Their responsibilities will include launching weather balloons, analyzing atmospheric conditions and distilling gathered data to present to safety and event staff.

They will also use specially designed instruments to measure Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, a metric that gauges heat stress in direct sunlight by accounting for temperature, wind speed, humidity, cloud cover and sun angle.

Humphrey said the project will allow students to apply their knowledge of atmospheric science in a real-world setting, adding that they will be able to see firsthand how their analyses and forecasts directly impact the event.

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