A US METEOROLOGIST has warned that lightning could be set to derail England’s World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway – even after the thunderstorms have passed.
The Three Lions have touched down in South Florida for the monster clash at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.
England have been warned that their contest with Norway could face delays even after storms have passed over the area Credit: AFP
A weather expert has revealed that lightning can linger after the storm itself has moved on Credit: Getty
The region has been rocked by some intense weather in recent days, including extreme heat warnings on Thursday and Friday as temperatures peak in the mid-to-high thirties Celsius – prompting fears over potential weather delays affecting the match.
And now AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill has revealed that thunderstorms are “likely” to appear around the stadium around the time of Saturday’s clash.
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He told Jattvibe Sport: “Right now we’ve got in Florida a sea breeze type of setup where you get these afternoon showers and thunderstorms that come off the Atlantic.
“And for Miami itself, they get thunderstorms during this time of the year that typically happen in the afternoon.
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“The sea breeze comes in, generates showers and thunderstorms, those thunderstorms continue to move west, and occasionally they dump some heavy rain and possibly some gusty winds.”
The 5pm kick-off time of the match is particularly unfortunate for the prospect of weather delays, as the storms begin to build around midday.
Fans will have to hope those early afternoon conditions around the stadium have softened by the early evening in order to ensure the match is not affected.
Merrill continued: “It’ll come in during the morning, and then during the midday to early afternoon there will be a couple of thunderstorms in the Miami area. Those thunderstorms can produce a lot of lightning in Florida and brief heavy downpours.
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“Then by the later part of the afternoon, those thunderstorms will push west closer and farther into the peninsula. It’s that time frame from midday through the early part of the afternoon where there will likely be some thunderstorms and lightning nearby for the match.”
Merrill also warned that while the storms themselves move along at a brisk pace, lightning can linger in its wake for longer periods of time.
Fifa policy dictates that play must be suspended for a period of 30 minutes should lightning strike within an 8-mile radius of the stadium – a provision that saw England‘s clash with Mexico pushed back by an hour.
And they could be in for more delays if lightning in Florida spreads outside the limits of the storm itself and besieges the stadium.
AccuWeather meteorologist Chad Merrill is expecting to see thunderstorms in Miami on Saturday Credit: The Jattvibe
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Merrill added: “Usually when the sea breeze comes in, the thunderstorms are moving at about 10 to 20 miles per hour. Those storms can continue to develop as they move farther inland.
“So, even after the storm passes, there can be a threat for lightning because the lightning can encompass an area from 10 to maybe 20 miles, even beyond where the storm is physically located.
“Even though the storm has passed, there still can be a lightning threat for an extended period of time. But usually these storms are fairly progressive as they move inland.”
Such seasonal storms might be unfamiliar territory considering the mild conditions of the UK or the colder temperatures of Scandinavia.
Merrill warned fans that the weather is nothing to be scoffed at, no matter how excited they may be for the game.
He said: “The best advice when you’re outside is if you hear thunder, immediately go indoors. “When thunder roars, go indoors” is the motto that’s typically used. If you can hear thunder, there’s lightning nearby.
“And the best place to be in a thunderstorm is go inside to a sturdy building and go into an interior room that’s away from windows. So for example, a bathroom or a closet would be a good place.
“Usually the rule of thumb is 30 minutes after the storm has ended is when it’s typically safe to go back outside. If you’re walking towards the stadium, for example, and you still have a distance to go before you reach the stadium, just go into the nearest store or nearest place where you can protect yourself from the thunderstorm until it passes.”
England fans have been enjoying the warm temperatures so far – but the could cause problems on matchday Credit: AP
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It is not just the stormy conditions that pose a threat to match-going fans, but the heat and air quality as well.
They will have to keep hydrated as temperatures in the extremely humid region ascend to concerning levels, with the moist conditions interfering with the body’s ability to cool itself down.
Merrill added: “The high temperature will be very close to about 91 Fahrenheit (33 Celsius) with the AccuWeather RealFeel temperature in the upper 90s (as high as 37 Celsius).
“One thing to keep in mind as well besides the temperature, the air quality is on the moderate side. There have been brush fires and fires going on across Florida because it has been drier than normal despite these sea breeze thunderstorms.
“With moderate air quality, it could be noticeable for a couple of folks that have lung ailments. That’s something to keep in mind for Saturday.
“If you start to feel very dizzy, if you start to feel very lightheaded, if you start to get chills or if you stop sweating, those are signs that heat exhaustion is upon you and it can happen pretty readily with folks walking to the game.”
