The Buffalo Bills have shared a clip of intense snow covering Highmark Stadium ahead of their game with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Snow started falling in the area, in Orchard Park, New York State, on Friday, when it was still unclear whether snow shovelers would be needed.
But, on Saturday, the Bills posted a video showing multiple snow removal vehicles inside and outside the stadium, with heavy snow still falling.
The caption said: “Shoutout to our snow removal crews for getting Highmark Stadium ready for tomorrow night!”
Before that, the club posted photos of the snow-covered stadium with the message: “Winter wonderland.”
It comes after the Bills, along with ABM—a firm that helps with facility management services—called on people to come forward to help with snow removal at the stadium for the rest of the season.
“In anticipation of the upcoming annual snow removal at Highmark Stadium this winter, the Buffalo Bills and ABM are asking anyone over the age of 18 years old interested in snow removal to sign up now,” an announcement said.
“Due to unpredictable snowfall, we may not know if shovelers will be needed until the day before,” it added.
People can use a Google doc to fill in their availability and will be told the day before they are needed. They would be paid $20 per hour, with food and hot beverages provided.
Coach Sean McDermott said: “We’re trying to stay on top of [the weather]. You guys know things change around here quickly with the weather coming off the lake and everything. So, do the best we can and just, I think you asked me early in the week, does that add to the preparation? And the answer is yes. It takes a little bit more time, a little more collaboration and communication. I mean not just coach-to-coach, but with our operation staff as well.”
Is the Bills and 49ers Game Still On?
There has been no announcement that the game will be canceled, but lake effect snow is expected to continue into early next week, according to the NY State Weather Risk Communication Center.
The weather forecast remains about the same for the Buffalo Bills game Sunday night. Lake effect snow is moving into the area now, and will likely remain through early afternoon Sunday, producing ~2 feet of snow. More isolated snow showers may continue during/after the game. pic.twitter.com/QuUaD7W5Ib
— NY State Weather Risk Communication Center (@NYSWRCC) November 30, 2024
“While the steady lake effect snow is likely to shift south of the stadium before kickoff, there may be brief periods of snow, squall-like heavier and blowing snow, with lower visibility, which may present sudden travel challenges for those traveling home,” it said in its most recent forecast for the game.
In a worst-case scenario, more than 3 feet of snow could fall in Orchard Park by the time kickoff takes place, but it is most likely that between 20 and 30 inches of snow will have fallen by that point.
Newsweek has contacted the Bills, via online contact form, for comment.
AP
