Climate delays Payments and Steelers sport, N.Y. governor proclaims

The Buffalo Payments and Pittsburgh Steelers playoff sport has been postponed till Monday afternoon as a result of winter climate, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned Saturday.

The sport was initially scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

“I’ve been in communication with @NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend. In consultation with our emergency response teams, @BuffaloBills leadership, and the NFL, the Bills game will be postponed to 4:30 pm Monday,” she mentioned in a publish on X.

The NFL and the Payments mentioned in a statement that the postponement was within the “best interest of public safety.”

Western New York is predicted to be hit with a winter storm starting round 6 p.m. Saturday. Hochul mentioned it could be intense and mentioned it might be probably the most “dangerous weather conditions in this area since the catastrophic blizzard of one year ago.”

Forecasters mentioned the storm shall be at its “fiercest” Sunday afternoon, the governor advised reporters at a information briefing.

“And that is why I am pleased to announce that in the interest of keeping both Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh fans safe … the NFL has agreed with our assessment that we need to postpone tomorrow’s playoff game,” Hochul mentioned.

“It’s all a part of our critical effort to keep New Yorkers, motorists and fans safe from this widely unpredictable storm,” she added.

In a publish on X, the governor warned that journey shall be “extremely dangerous” and a full journey ban was applied in Erie County, the place Buffalo is positioned, beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday.

The sport marks the primary spherical of the NFL playoffs and is the largest sport of the season for each groups with the winner being one step nearer to enjoying within the Tremendous Bowl. 

It is a growing story. Please examine again for updates.