Monday night’s matchup between the Washington Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium should avoid the kind of messy weather that can turn a game sideways. Rain is barely on the radar, but the wind may still make its presence felt when the ball is in the air.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 19, which works out to 5:15 p.m. local time for fans in Santa Clara.
According to the National Weather Service’s hourly forecast for the stadium area, rain chances stay at 3% throughout the game. The forecast was updated Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4:47 p.m.
ET / 1:47 p.m. PT.
Temperatures will dip as the night goes on, and west-northwest winds are expected to ease later in the evening.
Still, the gusts could matter. The forecast calls for wind gusts up to 21 mph from 5-7 p.m.
Pacific, which means both Jayden Daniels and Brock Purdy may get a feel for the ball’s flight during warmups before having to adjust once the game starts. That kind of wind won’t define the night, but it can change the way throws downfield play out.
The same goes for the kicking game. Longer field-goal tries could come down to more than distance, especially if a gust is pushing into the kicker’s face. That’s the kind of detail Dan Quinn will want to factor in when deciding whether to send the field-goal unit out.
Fans heading to the stadium should plan for cooler conditions by the time the game rolls around. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 50s by 8 p.m.
Pacific, and a breeze in the stands could make a sweatshirt or light jacket the smarter call. That matters even more for anyone getting there early and staying late, since the stadium’s event guide lists parking lots opening at 1:45 p.m.
Pacific and general gates opening at 3:15 p.m.
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