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.
On June 22 the game between France and Iraq became the first World Cup game delayed by the storms, stopping for more than two hours.
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.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan
NRG Stadium, Houston. Kick-off: 12 pm
An indoor match so no weather worries for the game. It is going to be sunny, hot and humid in Houston today. Mostly sunny skies this morning will warm temperatures up quickly. At 12 p.m. the temperature will be near 90F (32C). Temperatures after the game will be near 93F (34C). Winds out of the south at 5 to 15 miles per hour.
England vs Ghana
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro. Kick-off: 4 pm local time
It’s going to be cloudy and damp in Foxboro today with high temperatures near 70F (21C). The forecast calls for scattered showers and an isolated thundershower today. Forecast computer models have the rain dissipating toward 4 p.m. but I will be monitoring. Temperatures near 70 F(21C) at 4 p.m. with a 40% rain chance. Winds will be out of the northwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour; Temperatures will stay near 70F (21C) during the match. I will be monitoring the weather for this match with live blog updates.
Panama vs Croatia
BMO Field, Toronto. Kick-off: 7pm local time
A beautiful day in Toronto with sunny skies and highs near 70F (21C) this afternoon. At 7 p.m. the match will start with a temperature of 68F (20C) under blue skies. The temperature will drop to 65F (18C) by the end of the match with winds out of the northwest near 10 miles per hour. The sun will set at 9:03 p.m. so a bit of glare for the second half.
Colombia vs DR Congo
Estadio Akron, Zapopan. Kick-off: 8 pm local time
The weather will need to be monitored for the match. There is a 40% chance for a shower or thundershower after 8 p.m. Temperatures at 8 p.m. will be near 75F(24C). During the match there is a 40% chance for a shower or thundershower. The temperature will drop to near 68F (20C) by the end of the match. Winds will be westerly 5 to 10 miles per hour.
