The Patriots’ 2026 home opener against the Steelers could come with a wet backdrop in Foxborough, and the National Weather Service says the rain threat is only growing.
On Saturday, NWS Boston posted that “Rain is looking increasingly likely tomorrow, especially in the afternoon.” The forecast calls for dry, cool weather overnight, but cloud cover is expected to build after midnight before showers move in Sunday.
At Gillette Stadium, the first drops could arrive around 10 a.m., which means the pregame scene may already be damp by the time fans start settling in for tailgating. By kickoff at 1 p.m., the chance of rain is listed at over 50 percent, and the bulk of the game is expected to be played in the middle of the wettest stretch of the day.
The weather service says Sunday should not be a total washout. It is projecting less than a half-inch of rain overall, with precipitation lasting into the overnight hours.
The official forecast for the day reads: “Showers, mainly after 1pm. High near 62.
Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.”
The hourly forecast chart shows the rain odds climbing to nearly 100 percent between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., right in the heart of the game. Still, the NWS does not expect thunder to be part of the mix.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that the team is aware of the conditions and has already worked to account for weather like this. “Certainly, something that we’re conscious of, have done and will continue to do.”
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