01 February 2022, US, Inglewood: Workers paint the Super Bowl LVI logo on the field at SoFi Stadium. … [+]
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This upcoming Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams will be playing the Cincinnati Bengals in the finale of the football season: Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, east of the Los Angeles International Airport, where several football fans will be flying in to observe the game.
Although it is the middle of winter, the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Los Angeles area through Sunday evening and the “big game”. This includes a recommendation to “use caution when outdoors” because temperatures could reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit as thousands of people in and around the stadium watch.
This mid-February heatwave is unprecedented for southern California, as temperatures skyrocket to 20 degrees above average. However, it also may be a record-breaking for the NFL. The highest temperature recorded during a Super Bowl was in 1973 (Super Bowl VII), where the Miami Dolphins bested the Washington Commanders (14-7). This game also took place in Los Angeles, and temperatures reached 84 degrees.
American football is by no means the only sport affected by unusual weather that is likely connected to climate change. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to take place in Qatar later this year. But, due to temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, the world cup is being delayed to November/December, when temperatures are closer to 75 degrees. And, to maintain appropriate levels of snow at the current Winter Olympics, snow-making machines have been deployed so that events are taking place on completely artificial snow.
If you plan to tune in to the Super Bowl, be sure to stay apprised of National Weather Service updates. The Super Bowl will be airing on NBC on Sunday, February 13 starting at 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST. A streaming option will also be available on the NFL website.
