NFL Teams At Greatest Risk of Severe January Weather

By Sam Stebbins  •  December 31, 2025
Dynamic image of athletes playing American football on a snowy field, showcasing teamwork.
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January is the first full month of the astronomical winter in the United States, and also the final month of the NFL season. For many teams in the southern half of the country, or those with fully enclosed stadiums, January weather poses few risks – but for many teams with open air stadiums, severe winter weather in the final weeks of the regular season and the playoffs is a perennial concern. 

According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, January is the month with the greatest likelihood of severe winter weather. Historically, the 56 largest U.S. metro areas report a cumulative average of 309 inches of snow in the month of January, compared to about 271 inches in February and fewer than 225 inches in December. In large swaths of the United States – from the Northern Rockies and the Upper Midwest, through the Ohio Valley and the Northeast – heavy snowfall can have far reaching logistical and economic knockon effects. 

The National Football League’s $23 billion per year business is by no means immune to these risks. There have been seven NFL games that were either delayed or relocated due to severe winter weather conditions, including both snow and ice, since late 2010. Most recently, a January 2024 lake-effect snow storm in Western New York forced a 28.5 hour game delay in a playoff showdown between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even in instances where winter weather is not severe enough to delay or relocate a matchup, frigid temperatures and snowfall can be significant factors in the outcome of a game.

If, and to what extent, winter weather will impact the playoffs and what remains of the regular season remains to be seen – but teams playing in open-air venues are statistically at the greatest risk in certain parts of the country. 

Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s U.S. Climate Normals program, Climate Crisis 247 identified the NFL teams at greatest risk of severe weather in the coming month. We ranked all teams that play home games in open-air stadiums on average January snowfall in and around their home field. Supplemental data on average temperatures are also from NOAA. Local weather norms are based on averages recorded between 1991 and 2020. 

Among the 10 teams on this list, average January snowfall near the home stadium ranges from 4.7 inches to over 2 feet. Snow in the month of January is most common for the teams with home stadiums in the Northeast and Midwest. 

Note: As of Dec. 31, from the team on the following list, the Commanders, the Giants, the Jets, and the Browns did not make the playoffs and their season is over.

10. Washington Commanders

  • Home stadium: Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland
  • Average local snowfall in January: 4.7 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 36.2°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 27.8°F

9. Baltimore Ravens

  • Home stadium: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Average local snowfall in January: 6.4 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 34.3°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 25.4°F

8. Philadelphia Eagles

  • Home stadium: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Average local snowfall in January: 7.1 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 33.7°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 26°F

7. New York Giants and New York Jets

  • Home stadium: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
  • Average local snowfall in January: 9.1 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 32.8°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 25.5°F
Aerial shot of a modern, empty soccer stadium surrounded by city buildings on a clear day.
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6. Chicago Bears

  • Home stadium: Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois
  • Average local snowfall in January: 11.3 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 25.2°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 18.8°F

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Home stadium: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Average local snowfall in January: 13.3 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 28.8°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 21.4°F

4. New England Patriots

  • Home stadium: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
  • Average local snowfall in January: 14.3 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 27.4°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 18.3°F

3. Green Bay Packers

  • Home stadium: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • Average local snowfall in January: 14.3 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 18.3°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 11.1°F

2. Cleveland Browns

  • Home stadium: Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Average local snowfall in January: 18.4 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 29.1°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 22.3°F

1. Buffalo Bills

  • Home stadium: Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
  • Average local snowfall in January: 26.7 inches
  • Average local temperature in January: 25.5°F
  • Average low temperature in January: 19°F


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