In advance of one of what could be one of the worst ice storms to hit the Midwest in a decade, the NFL moved the Steelers playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs from a 1 p.m. kickoff to an 8:20 p.m. kickoff Sunday.
The NFL made the public-safety decision in conjunction with Missouri and Kansas City officials as well as the Chiefs and Steelers. Kansas City officials said the later start time will give local authorities more time to clear roads in the area.
The National Weather Service issued ice storm warnings from the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles into southern Illinois, with up to 1 inch of ice expected in some locations. The warning is in effect from Saturday night through midnight Monday. Forecasters expect the ice to turn to freezing rain or rain after the morning hours Sunday.
Forecasters are projecting the storm could cripple parts of the Midwest. Freezing rain arrived Friday as a thick glaze of ice covered roads from Oklahoma to southern Illinois, causing numerous crashes, forcing the cancellation of schools, grounding flights and prompting dire warnings for people to stay home.
Several utility companies brought in all available crews who were working extended shifts in anticipation of heavy ice snapping trees and power lines. Scattered power outages were reported Friday, including about 2,500 in Springfield, Mo.
The Steelers slightly altered their travel plans because of the storm. They are scheduled to leave Pittsburgh at 12:30 p.m. today, about two hours earlier than their normal departure time for road games.
The storm should not have much of an impact by the time it reaches Pittsburgh, though there may be some freezing rain in the area Sunday night and sporadic rain showers are expected Monday. Temperatures on both days should be in the 30s and 40s.
The Steelers are used to playing in less than ideal weather conditions. They beat the Miami Dolphins, 30-12, in an AFC wild card game at Heinz Field in the bitter cold last Sunday.
Associated Press contributed. Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: January 13, 2017, 8:13 p.m.
Updated: January 14, 2017, 4:56 a.m.
