Fans tailgate outside Neyland Stadium before the game.
(Icon Sportswire/Getty Images )
This weekend’s college and NFL tailgates will need to navigate two very different weather threats. Extreme heat continues to grip the Southeast, with Tennessee facing the toughest conditions of the entire slate, while scattered storms threaten outdoor tailgate plans in the Midwest, Florida, the Plains and the Northeast. Here’s what fans need to know before heading out to their tailgate this weekend.
(WEATHER LABS: Football tailgate forecasts)
Tennessee: weekend’s toughest tailgate heat
Tennessee has the toughest tailgate weather of the entire weekend. The Volunteers host Kennesaw State Saturday with a high expected around 93 degrees, while the Titans face even hotter conditions Sunday, with feels-like temperatures nearing 100 degrees.
The bigger risk is duration. Tailgaters who arrive early and stay outside for hours, whether grilling in a parking lot or sitting through a full slate of pregame coverage, face heat exposure well before kickoff even happens.
(MORE: Heat can turn deadly fast. Here’s what your body is trying to tell you)
Saturday:
Heat spreads across Southeast
Tennessee isn’t the only Southeast tailgate dealing with heat Saturday. Fans of South Carolina, Auburn and Ole Miss will also need to prioritize hydration and shade at their tailgates.
Get More of Our News on Google
Set The Weather Company as a ‘Preferred Source’ to get quicker access to the news you value.
In Oxford, Mississippi, heat risk is intensified by College GameDay, broadcasting live from campus. Fans lining up overnight or before dawn — then sitting outside for hours through the broadcast — face heat exposure well before kickoff in the evening.
Storms threaten tailgates across Midwest, Southeast
Tailgaters in several regions will need to watch the radar Saturday, as scattered storms threaten to roll through during peak tailgate hours in both the Midwest and parts of the Southeast.
- Auburn, Clemson and South Carolina tailgates face storm chances on top of the heat and humidity already in place — a tough combination for anyone outside for hours
- Knoxville tailgates also carry a storm risk, adding to an already hot, humid setup
- Chicago-area tailgates face storm chances — pop-up tents and covered areas become important
- Madison, Wisconsin, and the greater Great Lakes region face a similar scattered storm setup
- Storms may not be severe, but they can build quickly enough to disrupt grills, tents, and gathering plans across all of these regions
Sunday:
Cowboys and Titans lead NFL’s toughest tailgate
Tennessee’s heat story continues into Sunday, as the Titans face the same brutal conditions the Volunteers dealt with Saturday — feels-like temperatures near 100 degrees. With no roof at Nissan Stadium, Titans fans get zero relief from tailgate through kickoff, making this the toughest heat setup of the weekend.
The Eagles are taking no chances, arriving in Nashville one day earlier to begin acclimating to the extreme heat ahead of Sunday’s matchup — a deliberate move to prepare for conditions their roster isn’t used to.
(MORE: The top 10 weather games In NFL history)
The Cowboys aren’t far behind. Despite AT&T Stadium’s retractable roof, tailgaters outside won’t feel any benefit — the roof only helps once fans are inside. That makes the Cowboys’ pregame scene one of the NFL’s toughest, even if relief eventually comes once the game begins.
(MORE: 5 things you should know to stay safe during a heat wave)
Thunderstorms to impact several NFL tailgates
Beyond the heat, storms threaten tailgates in several other regions Sunday:
- Midwest (Chicago) — Scattered showers
- Northeast (New England, New York) — Scattered showers
- Southeast/Mid-Atlantic (Tampa Bay, Baltimore) — Scattered showers
- Rockies (Denver) — Isolated showers
- Plains (Kansas City) — Scattered showers
Tailgaters in these areas should have a covered backup plan and watch radar closely as storm timing could shift throughout the day.
(MORE: The ultimate tailgate playbook for every football forecast)
Tailgate safety: know your forecast, stay aware
Whether you’re facing heat or storms this weekend, staying aware of changing conditions — and having a plan to adjust — is the best way to stay safe at your tailgate:
- Check the forecast for your specific tailgate location and arrival time, not just the daily high, since conditions can shift significantly between morning setup and kickoff
- Heat safety: Stay hydrated, seek shade whenever possible, take breaks in air conditioning if available, and know the signs of heat exhaustion — dizziness, heavy sweating, and nausea
- Storm safety: Monitor local radar in the hours before and during your tailgate, since storm timing can shift quickly
- Lightning safety: If thunder roars, go indoors — a hard-topped vehicle counts if no building is nearby. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before heading back outside
- Secure your setup: Tents, canopies, and loose gear should be tied down or ready to pack up quickly if storms move in
Faiza Mohammed is a meteorologist intern at weather.com. She studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs team at the University of Georgia. She also received her master’s in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.