Precipitation Predicted for Pigskin Prep in PA

[CaptinCrunch]

This weekend will see snow - lots of snow - coming to Pennsylvania, site of the football championship games in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Which stadium will be renamed the Snowball Bowl? Will players need to strap on snowshoes, and will tailgate parties offer frozen foods and Sno-Cones to people dressed up like Eskimos?

Philadelphia may still have precipitation at game time (3:00 ET, Sunday) as the storm continues to move eastward and northward along the coast. Atlanta fans who are flying or driving up will probably experience some delays. By game time in Pittsburgh (6:30 ET, Sunday) conditions should be fairly normal for a Pittsburgh winter. However, for New England fans who intend to travel to and from the game, the storm may affect not only their travel to the 'Burgh, but the post game return home.

The expected timeline of the storm is as follows:

Friday - Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, with snow starting in northern Illinois including Chicago late Friday.
Friday night - Northern Indiana and Michigan, including Indianapolis and Detroit, with the snow continuing into Saturday.
Saturday - Ohio, West Virginia, western and central Pennsylvania and Maryland, western New York State. The snow should linger into Sunday in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Saturday night - New Jersey, Delaware, and New Jersey, with snow continuing into Sunday.
Sunday - New England, with snow continuing into Sunday night.
By the storm's end, 4-8 inches are expected in the Midwest, with more significant snows possible further east. Because the storm is expected to intensify as it reaches the coast, parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast have the highest risk for very heavy snow. AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center meteorologists note that similar storms have produced snow amounts of more than a foot in portions of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

By the storm's end, 4-8 inches are expected in the Midwest, with more significant snows possible further east. Because the storm is expected to intensify as it reaches the coast, parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast have the highest risk for very heavy snow. AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center meteorologists note that similar storms have produced snow amounts of more than a foot in portions of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

"This storm will make travel difficult to potentially impossible this weekend," said Henry Margusity, AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center Senior Meteorologist and Travel Weather Expert. "There is the possibility of near-blizzard conditions for a time Sunday in the big cities of the I-95 corridor from Washington, DC to Boston."

[CaptinCrunch]

Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday, January 23, 2005
3:00 PM EST

Event Day Forecast for Jan. 23

Snow Shower
Daytime High:26°F
Overnight Low:12°F
Probability of Precipitation: 90%
Wind: From the North Northeast at 14 mph


New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunday, January 23, 2005
6:30 PM EST

Event Day Forecast for Jan. 23

Few Snow Showers
Daytime High:21°F
Overnight Low:7°F
Probability of Precipitation: 30%

[jude]

Clever, Capt Crunch!

Philly Fights For Football Fame?
or
Falcons Fan Flames of a Fourth Failure!!??

E -A -G- L- E-S

Snow Storm Stomps Troubled Travelers?????????

[JenyEliza]

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CaptinCrunch]

Snow possible for championship games

NFL.com wire reports

-- Brrrr! There could be snow at both NFL conference championship games.

Forecasters are calling for gametime temperatures of 20 degrees and a chance of snow showers for Sunday night's Patriots-Steelers AFC Championship Game. There is a chance of heavier snowfall earlier in the day, but it is expected to stop by kickoff.

The weather could be worse across the state in Philadelphia for the NFC Championship Game between the Falcons and Eagles in the afternoon. Snow is predicted this weekend, with anywhere from a minimal amount to a major storm.

Similar conditions in Foxboro last weekend might have aided the Patriots in their 20-3 victory over the Colts, whose Peyton Manning-led passing offense was limited to a field goal on a snowy, cold day.

It was dry but chilly for the Steelers' 20-17 overtime win Jan. 15 over the Jets, with gametime temperatures of 28.

NFL rules say the field should be covered on the day and night before a game if there is any chance of precipitation. The Steelers usually keep Heinz Field covered, though it was left uncovered during some recent warm days to encourage the grass to grow.

The weather could be a factor in Philadelphia, considering the Falcons play in a dome -- although they went to Lambeau Field and beat the Green Bay Packers in snow two years ago in the playoffs.

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick said that was the only time he's ever played in snow. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb grew up in Chicago, so he's used to cold weather.

"We've come out on top when I've played in it, so hopefully we can continue that streak," McNabb said.

It was snowing and the temperatures were in the low 20s on Jan. 19, but that didn't affect Eagles coach Andy Reid, who wore shorts.

"Sometimes I forget to put my sweats on before I go out," Reid said.

The Steelers stayed inside to practice on a snowy day in Pittsburgh.

"When the elements get bad, you have to make sure you're mentally sharp," Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "Fundamentals come back into play big time."