Game delays for lightning may be annoying, but they save lives – a sports meteorologist explains the risk

Players have been injured by lightning during games, and a strike to the stands could hurt a lot of fans.

By: Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 22, 2026

Words: 908

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago

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By Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

When nearby lightning forces officials to delay a big college football game, the backlash from fans can be fierce, especially if the sky over the stadium is still mostly blue.

Sports fans took to social media to complain loudly when nearby lightning forced several game delays on Sept. 19, 2026, including Florida State at Alabama, North Carolina at Clemson, BYU at Colorado State, and Charlotte …

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