No. 13 Penn State should have a fairly manageable weather setup for Saturday’s Big Ten matchup with Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium, even with a major nor’easter making headlines up and down the East Coast.
Joe Murgo’s forecast points to the same basic theme from start to finish: the worst of the weather stays to the east, while Happy Valley mostly avoids the mess. The game is set for 5 p.m. Eastern on Peacock.
For fans making the trip in, conditions should be better from the west, where Murgo expects clouds with some sunshine and more clouds rolling in. Coming from the east - especially the Philadelphia to New Jersey corridor - the early part of the drive could bring wind and rain.
Murgo said the storm system will be lingering well east of Beaver Stadium during the game itself, with the heavier rain and gustier winds staying there rather than moving into central Pennsylvania.
That means tailgating should be workable, especially for a 5 p.m. kickoff. Temperatures are expected to sit in the middle to upper 60s, with a mix of clouds and sun and a bit of breeze. Overall, it should be a decent setup for this time of year.
At kickoff, Murgo is calling for temperatures around 65 degrees and winds in the 10 to 20 mile-per-hour range. He expects more clouds than sunshine and thinks the game will stay dry. Once the sun drops, it figures to feel cooler, so an extra layer may come in handy.
After the final whistle, the forecast stays favorable for anyone heading west. Eastbound travelers could run into wind, rain and possible delays, especially with the game ending around 8:30 to 9 o’clock and traffic already piling up.
Murgo said any heavier rain should be centered closer to Philadelphia and into New Jersey, with only a few spritzes possible near Happy Valley. “I’m not overly concerned whatsoever with that.”
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