Severe weather takes toll as NRG Stadium roof leaks before CFP national championship
Chaos because of the weather engulfed the CFP national championship game before the teams even kicked off.
Mother Nature made her presence felt at NRG Stadium in Houston hours before the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies played to determine college football’s top team.
Severe weather struck the area for most of the day, drenching the surrounding areas and sending tailgaters scurrying to get inside as strong winds and rain arrived over the stadium.
KPRC 2 in Houston reported that fans had been advised to shelter in place while wicked weather passed through the area.
While the rain hadn’t yet come down as heavily, the wind had picked up to a concerning amount, according to the report, and the CFP fan experience was closed down as stadium workers were seen taking down equipment for precautionary measures.
Heavy rain had fallen earlier in the day ahead of the game and the city was to remain under a tornado watch until 9 p.m. CST., The Associated Press reported.
The outlet had also indicated that fans had been struggling to hold umbrellas as they made their way to the stadium gates.
To add to the already peculiar scene outside, inside the stadium the roof was leaking on the goal of the Huskies’ sideline.
A video of the water dripping onto the field showed a Michigan player walking by and noticing it before continuing on with his pregame prep.
The weather also impacted those trying to reach the stadium, including friends and family of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
The weather forced a plane carrying Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald and members of the “Ravens brass” to have to divert to Austin, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The plane is expected to land around 6:30 p.m. local time on the outskirts of the city, Thamel reported.
Monday’s College Football Playoff Championship pitted Michigan and Washington against one another following a drama-filled season for the Wolverines and a Huskies team that is trying to give the Pac-12 a proper sendoff.
