NFL Teams At Greatest Risk of Severe Weather This Month

Professional sports are big business in the United States, drawing in millions of viewers and generating billions of dollars. But as a commercial enterprise, the NFL is in a league of its own. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 41% of Americans say football is their favorite sport to watch, more than quadruple the 10% share who prefer baseball – the only other sport with a double-digit ratings. In 2024 alone, the NFL brought in a record-breaking $23 billion in revenue, compared to a reported $14.3 billion for the NBA and $12.1 billion for MLB. The bulk of the NFL’s earnings come from multi-billion dollar media licensing deals, as 74 of the 100 most-watched broadcasts in the U.S. last year were NFL games. 

But every year, as the regular season progresses and the playoffs approach, changing weather conditions can pose an increasing likelihood of challenges to fans, players, and the wider league. Weather events and natural disasters – including snow storms – have resulted in over a dozen game postponements or relocations since 2003. 

In much of the country, football stadiums without a roof enclosure are especially vulnerable during the winter months, and all but 10 of the 30 NFL stadiums are open air facilities. In these venues, players and fans are subject to the elements, which, this time of year, can often mean extreme winter-weather conditions. 

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 this month. We ranked all teams that play home games in open-air stadiums on average December 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 nine teams on this list, average December snowfall near the home stadium ranges from 3.5 inches to 25.3 inches. Snow in the month of December is most common for the teams with home stadiums in the Northeast and upper Midwest. The Buffalo Bills, who play at Highmark Stadium, in Orchard Park, New York, are the highest ranking team on this list. Located just outside of Buffalo, Highmark is regularly inundated by lake effect snow – and in the last four years alone, the Bills have had two late- or post-season games delayed or relocated due to snow. 

9. Philadelphia Eagles

• Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Average local snowfall in December: 3.5 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 38.6°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 31.2°F

8. Kansas City Chiefs

• Stadium: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri
• Average local snowfall in December: 3.5 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 35.3°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 26.7°F

7. New York Giants/Jets

• Stadium: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Average local snowfall in December: 5.4 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 38.0°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 31.2°F

6. Chicago Bears

• Stadium: Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois
• Average local snowfall in December: 7.6 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 30.5°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 24.4°F

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Stadium: Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Average local snowfall in December: 7.7 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 33.7°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 26.7°F

4. New England Patriots

• Stadium: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts
• Average local snowfall in December: 9.0 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 35.7°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 29.2°F

3. Cleveland Browns

• Stadium: Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio
• Average local snowfall in December: 12.2 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 34.3°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 28.2°F

2. Green Bay Packers

• Stadium: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Average local snowfall in December: 13.1 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 24.5°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 18.0°F

1. Buffalo Bills

• Stadium: Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
• Average local snowfall in December: 25.3 inches
• Average local temperature in December: 31.4°F
• Average local low temperature in December: 25.6°F