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Bills-49ers Snow Game Could Be Impacted by Lightning

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Licata | Last updated Dec 1, 2024 8:03 PM ET

The Buffalo Bills (9-2) and San Francisco 49ers (5-6) are scheduled to kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET on "Sunday Night Football."

Crews have been working since Saturday to clear Highmark Stadium after a major lake-effect snowstorm battered the Buffalo metro region this weekend.

Just a couple hours before kickoff, retired winter weather expert Tom Niziol, formerly of The Weather Channel and National Weather Service, posted an update as the wintery weather continued to show signs on life despite the heaviest snowfall having already wrapped up.

"I was afraid of this. This is a very intense lake-effect snow band off Lake Huron, and is stretching down toward WNY and Orchard Park," Niziol wrote on X with an accompanying video showing multiple lightning strikes. "It has lightning in it as you can see as well. I will monitor it, but it could put a real wrench into the @BuffaloBills game. ⁦@NFL."

When asked by a commenter about a timeline for the snow band to potentially arrive in southern Erie County, where Highmark Stadium is located, Niziol responded, "Hard to say and my hope is it slides south of the stadium IF it even holds together."

I was afraid of this. This is a very intense lake-effect snow band off Lake Huron, and is stretching down toward WNY and Orchard Park. It has lightning in it as you can see as well. I will monitor it, but it could put a real wrench into the @BuffaloBills game. ⁦@NFL⁩ pic.twitter.com/y3bR45UDFF
— Tom Niziol (@TomNiziol) December 1, 2024

Lightning was spotted via radar throughout Saturday as well.

Intense band of snow is now in the process of nudging northward toward Orchard Park and the Buffalo Southtowns. Several inch an hour snow rates and occasional thunder and lightning will accompany this band. The Bills have already requested snow shovelers, with good reason. pic.twitter.com/twcy43D01T
— Eric Snitil (@EricSnitilWx) November 30, 2024

ESPN BET has the Bills as 6.5-point home favorites entering the Week 13 prime time battle.

Sean McDermott's club will look to extend its winning streak to seven games while the 49ers will be without multiple stars, including left tackle Trent Williams, defensive end Nick Bosa and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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