The NFL opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, experienced a 20-minute delay on Thursday night due to a passing storm. The storm brought heavy rain and lightning, prompting a temporary halt to the scheduled 7:20 p.m. CDT kickoff time.
Following the storm, the teams agreed to a shortened 25-minute warmup session starting at 7 p.m. This adjustment allowed for a brief window to conduct pregame activities, including the raising of the Chiefs' latest Super Bowl banner, the national anthem performance, and the rendition of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'.
As the storm hit, special teams players were on the field for warmups, but were quickly ushered to safety as lightning illuminated the sky near the stadium. Despite lasting only about 20 minutes, the heavy rainfall left standing water in certain areas of the stadium, while also causing a significant drop in temperature of approximately 25 degrees Fahrenheit from the earlier high of 92 degrees.
Although more isolated storms were predicted throughout the night, the NFL aimed to complete the game without further interruptions. The highest likelihood of additional thunderstorms was forecasted for after midnight, providing a window for the game to proceed smoothly.
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