Dangerously cold weather for football in the Midwest this weekend

A large Arctic high-pressure system will take over much of the Midwest this weekend, bringing cold air from the north. Although high pressure means that settled weather with little to no chances of precipitation will be observed on Sunday, it will also mean that potentially dangerous temperatures will be in place.

In Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in what should be an intense matchup as the Chiefs are in must-win territory to have a chance to make it to the playoffs. Kick off is at 12 PM, so tailgating will be occurring during the morning hours. This is when the most dangerous of the cold is expected, as air temperatures will be close to the single digits. Wind chills will be close to 0 degrees before the game starts, meaning that the potential for frostbite is more likely. Temperatures will warm into the upper-teens by kick off and into the low-20s by the drive home, but wind chills will make it feel like it is in the teens throughout all of the game.

Although this will be a cold game with the potential to present dangerous conditions, it will not be anywhere close to the coldest game played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. On January 13th, 2024, the Chiefs hosted a playoff game against the Miami Dolphins. During kick off, the air temperature was measured at -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind chill was even colder, measured at -27 degrees Fahrenheit as the game started. This made it the 4th coldest game in NFL history and led to things like Patrick Mahomes' helmet cracking because of the cold, as well as Andy Reid's mustache collecting ice throughout the game. During this game, some fans received frostbite, and a few fans who were treated for their frostbite ended up needing amputations.

Another cold game set to kick off at 12 PM this Sunday as the Cleveland Browns will take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. During tailgating time, air temperatures will be below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This will drop wind chills into the -15 to -20 degree Fahrenheit range before slightly warming up by gametime, where temperatures will still feel like they are -5 degrees.

Both of these games this Sunday will present hazardous conditions, as wind chills measured below 0 degrees present the risk of frostbite. Once wind chill values drop into the -15 to -20 degree range, it only takes 30 minutes or less to experience frostbite.

If you plan on going to either of these games, protecting your skin will be the most important consideration. Bring multiple layers, as well as gloves to protect your hands, a layer to cover your face, and a hat to protect your ears. If proper protection is not taken, frostbite or other cold-related injuries or illnesses will become significantly more likely, especially with the duration of these games lasting hours.