World Cup weather: Ideal conditions on Day Nine, with USMNT in action
This World Cup is going to be hot and at times stormy, with a sizeable chunk of its 104 games set to be played above 90F (32C).
Spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is likely to be the warmest edition since the previous time the tournament was held in North America, when the U.S. hosted it solo in 1994.
While extreme heat and humidity will affect how matches are played, thunderstorms could provide the greater logistical challenge.
Under the thunderstorm protocol in place in the States, a match must be suspended if lightning or electrical discharge is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium involved.
Once that happens, a 30-minute countdown begins, but resets if another strike is detected before it ends. Last summer, for example, Chelsea’s Club World Cup game against Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina, took four hours and 38 minutes to complete after repeated lightning delays.
To help understand which games will be most affected, The Athletic is working with Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist at WKBW-TV Buffalo, to provide a daily forecast. Aaron will join live coverage to explain what’s happening during storm delays.
USMNT vs Australia
Lumen Field, Seattle; kick-off at 12pm local time (PT), 3pm ET
A beautiful day in Seattle for this match — partly-to-mostly sunny skies at 12pm with a temperature of 75F (24C).
It will be mostly sunny during the game, with temperatures warming to near 80F (27C). Winds will be light out of the northwest at five miles per hour.
Scotland vs Morocco
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough; kick-off at 6pm ET
Another great forecast, as we’ll have mostly sunny skies today in Foxborough, too.
At 6pm, under blue skies, the temperature will be near 80F (27C), with westerly winds of five to 15 miles per hour.
Brazil vs Haiti
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; kick-off at 8:30pm ET
Another match that we’re not expecting to be impacted by the weather.
Temperatures in Philadelphia this afternoon will be near 83F (28C) under sunny skies. The sun will set at 8:32pm, and for kick-off skies will be mainly clear with a temperature near 80F (27C).
During the game, this will drop to near 75F (24C) with westerly winds at 10 miles per hour.
Turkey vs Paraguay
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California; kick-off at 8pm local time (PT), 11pm ET
The weather is going to be the winner again today, as all four matches will enjoy great conditions. Sunny and pleasant in the San Francisco Bay Area today, high temperature of 75F (24C).
At 8pm, skies will be clear with temperatures near 65F (18C). The sun will set at 8:32pm, and when the match ends at 10pm or so, skies will still be clear with a temperature of about 62F (17C). Winds will be southwesterly at five to 10 miles per hour.
