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Tampa Bay Weather Report for Super Bowl 55 – Is There Any Chance of Rain?

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in NFL Football

Updated Feb 3, 2021 · 11:00 AM PST

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida
The sun rises over Raymond James Stadium as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take the field for an NFL football training camp practice Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
  • The Kansas City Chiefs meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
  • The temperature is forecast to be in the mid-60s at kickoff with the chance of rain varying from 35-50%
  • A look at the weather forecast and how it could affect the game can be found below

There is a chance that weather could be a factor for Super Bowl 55 on Sunday night in Tampa.

The National Weather Service Forecast calls for the possibility of rain when the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off at 6:30 PM EST at Raymond James Stadium. The chance of precipitation exists throughout the evening.

Here is a look at the forecast:

Super Bowl 55 Weather Forecast

Time Temperature Chance of Precipitation Wind
6:30 PM EST Kickoff 66 degrees 37%  7 mph
8:30 PM EST Halftime 63 degrees 22%  6 mph

Pleasant Evening Expected

It should be a pleasant 66 degrees at game time and the forecast calls for the temperature to stay in the low-to-mid 60s throughout the game.

There is the possibility of rain, though. The NWS (National Weather Service) predicts a 37% chance of precipitation at kickoff with the percentage decreasing as the game goes on. Other sources have listed the possibility as high as 50% at game time.

For example, The Weather Channel is calling for a 40% chance of thunderstorms on Sunday evening with a temperature of 63 degrees.

The wind is expected to be blowing from the north-northwest at 7 mph when the teams tee it up. That translates to a cross breeze in relation to the stadium’s geography. If the prediction of thunderstorms proves true, it is safe to assume the winds would likely be stronger.

Though the Buccaneers will become the first team to play in the Super Bowl on its home field, the Chiefs are favored to repeat after beating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54 last February.

Super Bowl 55 Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Kansas City Chiefs -172 -3 (-120) Over 56.5 (-105)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +144 +3 (-102) Under 56.6 (-115)

Odds taken Feb. 3 at FanDuel

Perfect Football Weather… Probably

If the weather forecasters are right, the temperature in the mid-60s would be just about perfect. While the Buccaneers have the advantage of playing in the Florida heat and humidity, that does not figure to be a factor during a game in February.

With the wind predicted to be in the single digits, it should also have no outcome on the game.

However, rain could change things, even if the precipitation is not heavy.

Perhaps a Florida rainstorm would be peaceful.

The Weather Effect

Wet conditions would seemingly favor the team with the better rushing attack and that advantage would go to the Chiefs.

Kansas City was 16th in the NFL during the regular season with an average of 112.4 rushing yards a game. Rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs’ top rusher, is also healthy. He returned to the lineup for the AFC Championship Game after missing three games with an ankle injury.

The Buccaneers were 28th among the 32 teams averaging 94.9 rush yards per game.

Tampa Bay has narrowed that gap in the playoffs, though as its average of 115.0 is just 3.5 yards less than the Chiefs’ 118.5.

Bad Weather History

The Chiefs have played in two games this season with precipitation while the Buccaneers have yet to play in any.

The Chiefs beat the Bills 26-17 in the rain in Week 6 at Buffalo. Edwards-Helaire had the best game of his young career with 161 yards on 26 carries. Patrick Mahomes completed 21-of-26 passes for 225 yards, and two touchdowns.

A week later, the Chiefs routed the Broncos 43-16 in light snow at Denver.  Mahomes was 15 of 23 for a season-low 200 yards. Kansas City ran on 22 of their 47 plays from scrimmage.

The Chiefs played three home games in which the wind was blowing at 14 mph or more and won them all, defeating the New York Jets 35-9 in Week 8, the Carolina Panthers 33-31 in Week 9, and the Cleveland Browns 22-17 in the divisional round of the AFC Playoffs.

The Buccaneers had four games in which the wind was at least 10 mph, going 3-1.

They beat the Carolina Panthers twice – 31-17 in Week 2 at home and 46-23 in Week 10 at Charlotte – and the Green Bay Packers 38-10 in Week 6 in Tampa. The Buccaneers were routed in their other wind-related game, 38-3 by the visiting New Orleans Saints in Week 9.

Will Weather Affect the Line?

With the weather forecasts varying this far from gameday, it has not had an affect on the Super Bowl odds so far. However, it is easy to see the over/under dropping by a point or two if thunderstorms are in the forecast by the time we get to the weekend.

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