Summer is here in full force, and if you’re serious about your BBQ, the heat is not going to stop you from firing up the smoker. But grilling and smoking in extreme temperatures — we’re talking 90°, 96°, even 100°+ degree days — takes a little extra planning and a lot of common sense. In Episode 79 of the Backyard SmokeMaster BBQ Podcast, we broke down the best pitmaster-approved tips for staying safe, comfortable, and in control of your cook when summer heat is at its peak.

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Whether you’re out in the East Bay, battling the humidity of South Florida, surviving Palm Springs, or just making it work wherever you are, these tips will keep you grilling all summer long.

The most important rule of summer BBQ? Drink water. Keep a bottle or jug of water right next to your station. A cooler stocked with ice water and sports drinks is even better. While we’re not going to stop you from cracking a cold one (the community made it very clear that “grill master libations are a must”), alcohol alone won’t keep you hydrated during a long cook. Prioritize the water and sports drinks, especially in humid climates where the heat drains your energy faster.

Cooling towels are an underrated piece of summer BBQ gear. You can pick them up at most outdoor or sporting goods stores, and they’re designed to stay cool against your skin for extended periods. No cooling towel on hand? Soak a regular towel in cold water and take it outside with you. It’s a simple fix that makes a real difference during those long cooks.

Don’t be a hero. If you’re not actively tending the fire, get out of direct sunlight. Set up a chair, stool, or lawn chair in the shade — under a tree, a patio cover, or a canopy. Staying in the sun the entire duration of a brisket or pork butt cook will sap your energy and make the whole experience miserable. A little shade goes a long way.

This isn’t about two-zone cooking — it’s about a comfortable zone for you. Set up a canopy or patio umbrella near your smoker. Add a standing fan or a battery-powered misting fan (community members had great things to say about the EGO battery-powered misting fan, which uses the same rechargeable batteries as EGO lawn tools). Make your outdoor cook station a place you actually want to be.

When ambient temperatures are already sky-high, your fire can get away from you faster than you expect. Temperature spikes and flare-ups are more common on extremely hot days, so stay vigilant. A couple of tools that help:

Water pans — Place them inside your smoker or grill to help stabilize internal temperatures. They act as a heat buffer and can prevent wild swings.

Bricks — Especially useful in kamado-style grills and Weber kettles, bricks add thermal mass and help hold steady temperatures.

Keep a closer eye on your temps than you normally would, and don’t assume your smoker is going to behave the same way it does on a 65-degree fall day.

Direct sunlight beating down on your smoker adds extra heat to the outside of the cooker, which can affect internal temps and make it harder to maintain consistency. If your smoker is on wheels or easy to move, try to position it in a shaded area before your cook. Even partial shade can help. For those of us with multiple grills and smokers planted in one spot — this one takes a little extra effort, but it’s worth it.

Meat can cook significantly faster in extreme heat because the ambient temperature is already working in your favor — or against you, depending on how you look at it. Don’t assume the same cook times from your last session are going to hold. Monitor your internal meat temps more frequently and be ready to adjust. The best pitmasters are adaptable, not rigid.

This is your best friend in the summer heat. Remote thermometers allow you to monitor your cook from inside the house, away from the heat, while your phone does the watching. No more hovering over the pit. A few top picks from the community:

One hot-weather tip: extreme heat can drain thermometer batteries faster than usual. Always have backup batteries (or a backup thermometer) on hand.

This is the tip that ties everything else together. A spontaneous BBQ on a brutally hot day is a recipe for a rough cook. Instead, think through your entire session in advance:

The more you plan, the less you’re scrambling in the heat. And the less you’re scrambling, the more you can actually enjoy the cook.

Summer BBQ means bugs. It never fails. Add bug spray or citronella to your summer cook station setup. And if you want to have a little fun with the flies — the community is a big fan of the salt gun with laser sights. Turning fly patrol into target practice? Honestly, not a bad way to pass the time on a slow smoke.

Before your next hot-weather cook, run through this quick checklist:

Summer heat isn’t going to slow down a real pitmaster — but it does require some extra preparation and self-awareness. Protect yourself, manage your fire, and use the tools available to you. Most importantly, stay hydrated and enjoy the cook.

Got your own tips for surviving the summer heat on the grill or smoker? Drop them in the comments below — the Backyard SmokeMaster community always has something good to add.

Want more BBQ tips and techniques? Join the Backyard SmokeMaster Society, the free BBQ community for backyard cooks who take their ‘cue seriously. New episodes of the Backyard SmokeMaster BBQ Podcast drop every week — find us on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.