It’s football weather in Buffalo.
The Bills are bracing for a heavy lake-effect snow storm to impact their Sunday Night Football game against the 49ers at Highmark Stadium.
The latest forecasts predict 20-to-30 inches of snow to fall from Saturday afternoon into Sunday. Winds between 6 and 14 mph are expected Sunday night with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued a snow warning in the area until 7 p.m. ET on Monday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has already declared a disaster emergency for area to mobilize resources
“This is going to be concerning for people trying to travel to the football game,” Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said. “We do not expect the game to be postponed or anything like that. The game will go on. Now, we’ve had games that are colder than that. Just got to dress appropriately. So people need to be prepared. It’s the first real cold of the season. We haven’t had anything like this all year.”
The Bills, as they have in the past, released a call to fans to sign up as prospective snow shovelers if needed at the stadium.
Fans would be paid $20 per hour with food and hot beverages.
“We’re trying to stay on top of it, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Friday. “You guys know things change around here quickly with the weather coming off the lake and everything. So do the best we can.”
The Bills enter the clash at 9-2 atop the AFC East, while the 49ers have struggled and sit at 5-6, tied for last in the NFC West.
Bills players have been looking forward to a snow game.
“Football is fun, whether it’s snowing, whether it’s raining, it’s cool, and I’m the shnowman, so shnowman likes snow,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said, referencing his nickname. “I got my white coat on today, because we’re supposed to get snow, so I’m trying to summon the shnow so we can have a little bit more fun, which we already have a lot of.”