How the NFL Handles Weather Delays and Postponements
Lightning, snow, wind and heat can all interrupt a game. Here is how the NFL decides when to pause, when to move a start time and when a game cannot be played as scheduled.
Thousands of fans are in their seats, the teams are warming up, and a siren sounds. Within minutes the field is empty, the crowd is moving into the concourses, and the scoreboard shows a message about a delay. A weather stoppage in the NFL looks improvised from the stands, but it follows procedures that the league writes down in advance, because the people running the game know that some version of this will happen eventually.
This guide explains the main types of weather problems in the NFL, who has authority to stop a game, what typically happens during a delay, how the league handles a game that cannot start or finish, and what the rules say about a result when the weather wins. It does not cover specific past games. The exact thresholds and procedures are set in league operating manuals and may be updated, so treat the description here as the general approach.
Who decides
Several parties are involved in a weather decision, and their authority differs.
- The game officials have authority over the field. The referee has the power to suspend play when conditions make it unsafe or unfair, after consulting with others.
- The league's game operations staff monitor weather forecasts and radar, often with the help of meteorologists, and communicate with the stadium and the officials.
- The stadium operator and local officials control the building, including evacuation or sheltering procedures when there is a safety threat.
- The commissioner's office has authority over the schedule. If a game must be moved or postponed, the league makes the decision.
In practice, these groups talk to one another continuously on game day. Decisions to delay are almost always collaborative, with safety as the priority. The teams themselves can raise concerns but do not control the decision.
Lightning: the most common reason for a stop
Lightning is the weather event that most often halts an NFL game, because it presents an obvious danger to people in open stadiums. Protocols typically rely on a monitoring service that tracks lightning strikes near the stadium. When a strike occurs within a set distance, play is suspended, and fans, players and staff are directed to safe areas.
The specific distance used by the league has been reported as roughly eight miles, and the usual practice is to wait a fixed period, commonly described as thirty minutes, after the last detected strike inside the radius before play can resume. If another strike occurs inside the radius during that time, the clock resets. These figures reflect general safety guidance, but the league's current manual is the final word.
That reset is why delays can last longer than fans expect. A storm that seems to be clearing may still produce a strike inside the radius, restarting the wait. A delay of more than an hour is not unusual when a storm lingers.
What happens during a delay
When a game is suspended for lightning or another safety reason, a sequence of steps follows.
- Announcement. The stadium displays and public address system tell fans what is happening and where to go.
- Shelter. Fans move to covered areas, such as concourses and, in some stadiums, designated shelters. Players and staff leave the field for the locker rooms or other safe areas.
- Monitoring. League and stadium staff continue to track the weather. They update the teams and the officials.
- Restart preparation. When the storm clears, players need time to prepare again. The league usually gives teams a warm-up period before play resumes, since muscles cool during a long delay.
- Resumption. The game continues from where it stopped, with the same score, down, distance and clock.
Teams use the delay to stay ready. Players stretch, eat and drink, and coaches review the game. A long break can change momentum, though how much is difficult to measure.
Pregame delays and kickoff changes
A weather problem before the game can lead to a delayed kickoff. If a storm is moving through, the league may hold the game until it passes, so that fans arrive safely and the field is playable. Pregame delays are common for lightning, and the league usually tries to keep the delay as short as possible.
In some cases the league moves the start time of a game before it begins, based on a forecast. If a major storm is expected, the league may shift kickoff to earlier or later in the day to avoid it. This can involve changes for broadcasters and ticket holders, so the league tries to decide as far ahead as it can while still having accurate information.
If forecasts are especially severe, the league can reschedule a game to another day or even another location. These moves are rare, since the league's schedule is tightly built around television windows, travel and rest. Our schedule page shows the current game times, and teams announce changes to fans directly.
Snow, rain and wind
Not every weather problem stops a game. The NFL has a long tradition of playing in snow, rain and cold, and in most such conditions the game continues. The league's attitude is that these conditions are part of football, as long as the field remains safe and the game can be officiated.
- Snow. Grounds crews clear the lines and the sidelines when possible, usually during timeouts and breaks. Officials may stop play briefly to clear snow, and the chain crew and officials adapt their equipment. Heavy snow that obscures the field markings or makes footing hazardous can lead to a delay. See how weather changes a game plan.
- Rain. Rain alone rarely stops a game. A heavy downpour, especially one that floods the field, may cause a delay while crews address it. Drainage differs among fields; the type of surface also matters, as explained in NFL stadiums: domes, retractable roofs and playing surfaces.
- Wind. High winds rarely stop a game, but they affect kicking and passing. Extreme wind can create safety problems, such as objects blowing onto the field, and could lead to a stoppage.
- Fog. Dense fog can make it impossible to see the ball and the field, especially from the press box and for the cameras. In severe cases, play may be delayed.
- Cold. Extreme cold is a concern for fans and players, but the league has no fixed temperature at which games are canceled. Teams prepare with heaters on the sidelines, warm clothing and medical monitoring.
- Heat. High heat and humidity raise the risk of heat illness. Medical staff monitor players, and teams have plans for hydration and cooling. See hydration and heat safety for athletes.
In every case, the question is whether play can continue safely and fairly. The answer depends on specifics, which is why officials and league staff make decisions in the moment.
What counts when a game is cut short
A rare but important question is what happens if a game cannot be completed. The league has rules for different situations, and they depend on how far along the game is and on whether the outcome affects the standings. The commissioner has broad authority to decide how to proceed, including rescheduling and resuming a suspended game at a later time, or declaring the result at the point of the stoppage.
Because these situations are unusual, the league may weigh several factors: how much of the game has been played, the effect on the playoff race and the practicality of rescheduling. The reasoning is meant to be fair to both teams and to preserve the integrity of the competition. A tie in the standings has its own rules, which are covered in how ties count in the NFL standings.
The league has little reason to publish its specific plan for every scenario in a fan-friendly format, so the best source for any particular situation is the official rulebook or league announcement.
How a postponement works
If a game cannot be played on its scheduled day, the league may postpone it. A postponement is a bigger decision than a delay. It involves moving the game to another time, which affects both teams' schedules, the rest of the week and the broadcast partners.
The league considers several things when choosing a new date and location:
- Safety. Is the original site safe for fans and teams?
- Rest and travel. Both teams need adequate rest before their next game.
- Calendar flexibility. The league's schedule includes only a few open dates, so choices are limited.
- Broadcast partners. The game must fit into a television window.
- Competitive fairness. The change should not unfairly benefit one team.
A postponement can also mean playing the game at a different site, such as another stadium, if the original site is unusable. Teams are notified quickly, and the league communicates the decision to fans and media. Ticket policies are handled by the teams and the stadium, and readers should check with their team for details.
A hypothetical delay, minute by minute
To see how the pieces fit, picture a hypothetical afternoon game in an open-air stadium. In the second quarter, the league's weather monitoring detects lightning inside the safety radius. Within moments the referee is told, play is stopped at the next opportunity and the stadium announces a delay. Players jog to the tunnels, fans head for covered concourses, and the broadcast goes to its studio.
The thirty-minute clock begins at the last detected strike. Fifteen minutes in, another strike occurs inside the radius, and the clock restarts. Coaches use the time to talk with their players, athletic trainers keep players loose and hydrated, and the equipment crews dry the benches and protect electronics. Stadium staff keep fans informed of what is happening.
When the radius has been clear for the full waiting period, the league tells the teams how much time they have to warm up before play resumes. The game restarts exactly where it stopped, with the same clock and down. The total delay could last well over an hour, and the final score may look no different from what it would have been without the interruption. That is the point of the procedure: it is slow because it is conservative.
Why the league does not use a single temperature or rainfall cutoff
Fans sometimes ask why there is no simple rule such as "no games below a certain temperature" or "stop if rain exceeds a certain amount." The reason is that football can be played safely in a wide range of conditions, and the same number can mean different things in different circumstances. A game in dry cold with proper clothing and heaters on the sideline is very different from a game in the same temperature with wet, slippery footing and strong wind.
The league prefers to give officials and game operations staff discretion to look at the whole picture, including field conditions, visibility, wind speed, the forecast and the ability of medical staff to do their work. Lightning is treated differently because the danger is immediate and the response can be defined clearly in advance.
Heat, air quality and other non-storm hazards
Weather-related problems are not limited to storms. Smoke from wildfires can affect air quality, and extreme heat can create health risks. The league monitors these conditions and consults with medical experts. While the details are specific to each situation, the principle is the same: player and fan safety come first, and decisions are made as close to game time as the facts allow.
There are also non-weather interruptions such as power failures, stadium equipment problems or security concerns. They are handled similarly, with a delay while the issue is addressed, and a decision about whether the game can proceed.
What fans should do
If you are attending a game and the weather turns, a few steps help.
- Follow stadium instructions. Announcements and staff direct you to safe areas. Lightning is dangerous in open stands.
- Check the team's official channels. Teams post updates about delays, restarts and postponements.
- Dress for the forecast. Cold, rain and heat can be hard on spectators as well as players.
- Know the ticket policy. Postponements and relocations may affect your plans, and the team's policy governs.
- Be patient. A delay is frustrating, but the people in charge are trying to keep everyone safe.
If you are following from home, use live scores and the team's announcements to see whether a game has been delayed, and check the standings after the final result.
The short version
- Game officials, league staff, the stadium and the commissioner's office all play roles in weather decisions, with safety as the priority.
- Lightning is the most common cause of a stoppage; the standard approach uses a distance radius and a waiting period that resets with each nearby strike.
- During a delay, fans and players take shelter, staff monitor the weather and teams get time to warm up before play resumes.
- Snow, rain, wind and cold rarely stop a game on their own; the issue is whether play can continue safely and fairly.
- Pregame delays, moved start times and postponements are options when a forecast or conditions call for them.
- The commissioner has authority over rescheduling and over the result of a game that cannot be completed; confirm details in the official rulebook.