Arctic Air to Bring Record-Cold Temperatures to Iowa-Nebraska Game at Kinnick Stadium
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Eastern Iowa is bracing for a blast of Arctic air this holiday weekend, including the highly anticipated Iowa-Nebraska football game. The cold front is expected to bring temperatures well below normal, with conditions that could set a new record for Kinnick Stadium during the game.
On Black Friday, temperatures are forecast to be about 15 degrees lower than typical for late November, with highs only reaching the mid-20s under sunny skies. Although these temperatures won’t break daily records, they will still make for a chilly outing for fans.
By game time, which is scheduled for late afternoon, the temperature is expected to hover around 20 degrees. While winds will be light, the wind chill will make it feel like it’s in the teens, adding to the cold conditions.
The projected temperature at kickoff would be the second coldest on record for a game at Kinnick Stadium, though precise historical data for kickoff temperatures is limited.
The coldest game in recent memory occurred on November 23, 2013, with a temperature of 18 degrees. If the forecast holds, this year’s matchup could become the coldest Iowa-Nebraska game since the annual series started being played on Black Friday in 2011.
In comparison, the coldest-ever Iowa-Nebraska game took place in 1896 in Nebraska, with a bitter 11-degree temperature. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the hottest game in the series occurred on September 2, 1999, in Iowa City, with temperatures soaring to 92 degrees.
Fans attending this year’s game should prepare for frigid conditions as they cheer on the Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers.