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Weather Impact

When weather is severe, we want you to know how MSCR makes decisions about canceling any in-person programming, indoor or outdoor. MSCR aims to run all classes and programs, and the safety of our participants and staff is our top priority. MSCR follows a set of guidelines to make decisions about whether to cancel a program.

MSCR offers a wide variety of programming:  indoor, outdoor, high intensity, low intensity, youth, adult, 50+ and located throughout the entire city of Madison.  Occasionally, weather impact decisions may impact the entirety of MSCR programming and other times the decision is program-specific.

MSCR prioritizes staff and participant safety when making these decisions.  We realize, at times, our decisions may not fit with your individual circumstances. Therefore, we encourage and strongly support you in making the decision that is best for you and/or your child(ren). You are always the best judge of your/their health and safety.

Winter Weather, Extreme Cold and Snow

If MMSD closes school due to winter weather conditions and hazardous road conditions, all MSCR programs are canceled and facilities are closed.   

Communication: Participants are informed through email, social media, and news media outlets.  

Reference Guidelines:  See the MMSD weather information page.

Extreme Heat

Excessive Heat Watch or Heat Advisory: Generally almost all MSCR programs run with additional activity and water breaks. Programs that cannot operate safely may be canceled. 

Excessive Heat Warning: This weather condition will have more broadly canceled programs.

  • If MMSD closes schools, all MSCR programs located in the non-air conditioned school buildings are canceled.
  • Programs and classes held in the air-conditioned facilities (MSCR East, MSCR Central, MSCR West, WPCRC) and swimming lessons and programs will run. 
  • MSCR will evaluate other outdoor programs, camps and classes to determine if they can run, can relocate to an air conditioned facility or need to cancel.

Communication: Registered participants are notified of venue changes or cancellations by email, robo call. Drop-in programming and sports leagues update their individual communication pages or weather line listed below. 

Reference Guidelines: Extreme Heat designations at weather.gov/safety/heat-ww

Air Quality

Air quality can fluctuate throughout the day or may be slightly different throughout parts of our community depending on wind and weather conditions.  Conditions may warrant a full day and all programming closure or partial day, partial program closure. If AQI is above 151, MSCR determines which programs and the timing of closures.

  • Green & Yellow, 0-100: Programs run as normal 
  • Orange, 101-150:  Programs held outdoors run as normal. Staff monitor participants closely and may modify program activities for additional breaks. 
  • Red, 151-200: Outdoor programs that can move to an alternative indoor location continue. MSCR may cancel SPECIFIC outdoor programs that do not have indoor options or other factors affecting participant/staff safety.
  • Purple, 201-300: MSCR cancel outdoor programs that do not have indoor back-up locations. MSCR and MMSD monitor indoor and outdoor air quality closely and consider if indoor programs may need to be canceled more broadly. 
  • Brown, 301-500: All programming may be canceled based on public health recommendations to avoid all activity.

AQI Decision timelines:  Air quality decisions are unique in that the conditions could change throughout the day. MSCR communicates programming location moves and cancellations by 7 am. If cancellations are for half day, the next communication is by 1 pm.  

Communication: Registered participants are notified of venue changes or cancellations by email, robo call. Drop-in programming and sports leagues update their individual communication pages or weather line listed below.

Reference Guidelines: Airnow.gov

Outdoor Drop-in Programs, Sports Leagues and Lessons

Rain, wind and thunderstorms also impact MSCR’s outdoor programming, activities and lessons. If you are attending any of the leagues, clinics, or drop-in programs listed below, please review their specific mode of communication and timeline.

There is no Open Swim at Lapham on Friday, October 11.

  • MSCR on the Move (Art Cart, Clay on the Move & Play on the Move)

MSCR on the Move Weather Decisions

  • Adult Sports Leagues

Initial weather decisions on Adult Sports Leagues are made daily by approximately 3:30 pm.
Postponed games are made up later in the season.

Adult Sports Leagues Weather Decision

  • Swimming Lessons at Goodman Pool

Staff monitor weather conditions and update the MSCR Aquatics site.

  • Tennis Lessons

Staff report 30 minutes prior to the lesson start time to evaluate court conditions. If courts are playable or will be playable by the start time, classes proceed as scheduled.

Tennis Weather Decision

  • Youth Sports Skills, T-Ball & Coach Pitch Baseball

MSCR makes every attempt to make the decisions by 4 pm and email every family and coach through Team Sideline if games and programs are cancelled. Please check your account to make sure that your email is accurate and that emails are not going to your spam folder.

  • Youth Soccer Leagues

Games take place in light rain. MSCR makes every attempt to email every family and coach through Team Sideline if games are cancelled. Please check your account to make sure that your email is accurate and that emails are not going to your spam folder.

Youth Soccer League Weather Decision

  • Drop-in Pontoon Boat Rides

Pontoon Weather Decision

Call the MSCR Pontoon weather line: 608-204-3044 ext 4 for the most up to date information regarding cancellations.

Cancellations/Make-up Classes/Credits:

MSCR may cancel programs due to severe weather, facility conflicts, staff illness or other unforeseen circumstances. In the case MSCR cancels a class, we try to reschedule the class. If MSCR is unable to schedule a make-up session, a credit is issued to the customer account. When a customer misses a class, no credit is provided.

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Madison School & Community Recreation