Could poor air quality in Kansas City affect the Chiefs vs. Lions game? What to know
The 2023 NFL season starts in Kansas City, Missouri, tonight, where residents are seeing hazy skies.
Air quality in Kansas City was in the "unhealthy" range Thursday, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's air quality index. The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night for the first game of the NFL's regular season.
Tailgating starts around 3:30 p.m. local time, and pregame festivities include an on-field ceremony to celebrate the Chiefs' 2022 Super Bowl win, live musical performances and a flyover from Whiteman Air Force Base. Widespread haze is expected in the region for the rest of the day.
Here's what to know about the weather in Kansas City and whether it could affect Chiefs vs. Lions.
Why is it hazy in Kansas City today?
The National Weather Service in Kansas City issued a hazardous weather outlook Thursday for poor air quality in Northwest, North Central and West Central Missouri, as well as Eastern Kansas.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires settled over the region Thursday, resulting in the haze and reduced air quality.
What time is the Chiefs-Lions game today?
The Chiefs and Lions kick off at Arrowhead Stadium at 8:20 p.m. ET. Tailgaters will likely see widespread haze throughout the day with a high near 85, according to the NWS. Rain showers are possible between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Will the haze in Kansas City delay the Chiefs-Lions game?
The poor air quality is unlikely to affect the game, but it's still possible.
Lightning, strong winds and heavy snowfall can delay or postpones NFL games at Arrowhead Stadium, according to the Chiefs' website. Other large arena events, such as Taylor Swift's concerts in Cincinnati, went on as scheduled this summer despite air quality concerns.
However, some sporting events were canceled this summer due to poor air quality. Two MLB games, a National Women's Soccer League game and an indoor WNBA game were postponed in June in New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. At the time, the air quality index in all three regions was labeled at least "unhealthy" or "very unhealthy" by the EPA.
Kansas City's air quality index was 157 on Thursday, low on the EPA's "unhealthy" range, which starts at 150 and ends at 200. The air quality index was 102 in Cincinnati on June 30, the day of Swift's first concert in the city. Philadelphia's air quality index, on the other hand, was 233 when the Phillies' game was postponed, according to The New York Times.
The Enquirer asked Ted Crews, executive vice president of communications for the Chiefs, whether poor air quality could affect Thursday's game. This report may be updated with the team's response.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Poor air quality in Kansas City: What to know for Chiefs-Lions game
