Depending on who you believe, Super Bowl XLVIII will be played under sheets of snow or in fair conditions. Meteorologists disagree on how strong a storm expected to hit the area the weekend of the game will be, when it will hit and how much it will affect the game.
Local weatherman Lonnie Quinn of CBS 2 said one model suggests a snowstorm similar to the one that hit the city this week could strike “within 48” hours of the clash between the Broncos and Seahawks.
“If that holds true, this is a major player,” Quinn said on his newscast on Wednesday. “Not a small snowstorm, it would be a major player.”
Quinn is known for his histrionics, rolling up his sleeves on television during bad weather. He even joked on Twitter if his prediction holds, he will deliver the Super bowl forecast shirtless.
Others aren’t as certain. AccuWeather.com meteorologist Evan Myers agreed a storm system will be approaching the Northeast on Super Bowl weekend, but at this point he is unsure of its severity.
“The timeline is for Friday to Sunday,” Myers said on the website WillItSnow. “Whether or not it happens during the game or before the game, and whether or not it will come as rain or snow, is still questionable.”
AccuWeather.com meteorologist Bernie Rayno said it would not be unusual for a snowstorm to hit that weekend, and feels it is a gamble the NFL is taking. According to WillItSnow.com, the area receives an average of 2.2 inches of snow during the first week of February.
“They are taking a calculated risk having the Super Bowl [at MetLife Stadium],” Rayno said. “A risk because if this area is going to get a big storm, that’s the time of year it will happen. Calculated because they only really need one day.”
On their latest predictions, Rayno said it will not snow the day of the game and Myers said it will. AccuWeather.com predicted a 30 percent chance of snow and temperature in the lower 30s and upper 20s.
Either way, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t seem overly worried. He told reporters Wednesday he hasn’t checked the forecast yet.
“One is, I’m not sure how reliable forecasts are this far out,” Goodell said. “And two is, we have a whole group of people that are getting the best information, have the right team together, to make sure we have appropriate information at the right time. There’s nothing I can do about that. Our team has been working to be prepared for all alternatives and I’m confident they will be.”