NFL season opener between Ravens and Chiefs delayed 20 minutes after storm hits Kansas City

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The start of the NFL opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs was delayed 20 minutes Thursday night when a strong but brief storm passed over Arrowhead Stadium, bringing torrential rain and lightning.

The game was scheduled to start at 7:20 p.m. CDT, 40 minutes after the rain stopped. The teams agreed to an abbreviated 25-minute warmup starting at 7 p.m., giving the Chiefs about 15 minutes to unfurl their final Super Bowl banner, perform the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and other pregame festivities.

Special teams players were on the field for pregame warmups when the sky darkened and rain began to fall, forcing fans in the stadium to rush for cover. Players were evacuated from the field to safety when lightning lit up the sky north of the stadium.

The rain lasted only about 20 minutes, but the speed of the rain still left standing puddles in corners of the stadium. The storm also dropped the temperature to about 33 degrees Celsius, down from 92 degrees Fahrenheit.

More thunderstorms are forecast through the early morning hours, but the highest risk of thunderstorms is after midnight. That would give the NFL a chance to finish the game without further delays.

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