Longest Weather Delay in College Football and Ncaa Rules Due to Rain and Lightning

NFL games moved due to weather dates back to 1989. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake shifted the contest from Candlestick Park to Stanford University.

As mentioned in an earlier section, extreme weather cases are exceptions for rescheduling or cancellation of events. The majority of such incidents are the result of hurricanes, lightning, and freezing temperatures.

Games Cancelled

NFL games cancelled due to weather are zero. There is no such protocol for cancellation as the NFL Rulebook states that all games must reach to a conclusive end.

It means that extreme climatic scenarios can impact the matchday but it does not necessarily result in abandonment. Instead, the location or date is advanced to another point. Doing so eventually solves the crisis and each and every matchday bears the result.

However, it was before the standardization of league schedules in 1993. Before that, to avoid playing, teams would cancel their matchups as there was no inclusion of penalty or punishment.

Boston Redskins Vs. Philadelphia Eagles contest is the last one recorded. The event from 1935 was scraped as the field was unable to host the tie due to snow and rain.

Following that, the era with the regulation of the league schedule omitted such acts. The hazardous climatic scenario would now be averted with deferral. 

Hurricane Andrew caused the rescheduling of the contest between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots in 1992, reports Yahoo Sports. Likewise, Hurricane Charley was the culprit behind the suspension of the 2004’s tie between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here are some major incidents that led to the postponement of NFL matchups:

• San Diego Chargers Vs. Miami Dolphins 2003 – Cedar Fire
• Tennessee Titans Vs. Miami Dolphins 2004 – Hurricane Ivan
• Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Miami Dolphins 2004 – Hurricane Jeanne
• New Orleans Saints Vs. New York Giants 2005 – Hurricane Katrina
• Kansas City Chiefs Vs. Miami Dolphins 2005 – Hurricane Wilma
• Houston Texans Vs. Baltimore Ravens 2008 – Hurricane Ike
• Minnesota Vikings Vs. New York Giants 2010 – Severe Storm Causing the Collapse of stadiums roof
• Minnesota Vikings Vs. Philadelphia Eagles 2010 – Severe Snowstorm
• Buffalo Bills Vs. New York Giants – Severe Snowstorm
• Dallas Cowboys Vs. Houston Texans 2017 – Hurricane Harvey
• Miami Dolphins Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2017 – Hurricane Irma
• Arizona Cardinals Vs. New Orleans Saints 2021 – Hurricane Ida
• Buffalo Bills Vs. Cleveland Browns 2022 – Severe Winter Storm

Games Delayed Due To Lightning

NFL games delayed by lightning accord for a suspension of 30 minutes. The 30-minute rule discloses the stoppage of play if lightning appears within a 10-mile radius of the stadium.

Because of this policy, with every new lightning, the clock is reset for another half an hour.

If the play is continued while the area is experiencing lightning, it can hit the metallic face mask worn by players and other metallic instruments resulting in fatal injury and death. The spectators and all other people are taken indoors as a safety protocol.

So, it becomes necessary to consider the safety of everyone as the primary thing.

Some of the clashes that resulted in the setback and caused the interruption in play are: