Blue Bombers Forum

Can someone remind me what the protocols are for severe thunderstorms at Bomber games? I know they will typically delay the game if there is lightning in the area, and resume play when the storm has passed, right?

Forecast looks pretty dismal all day Friday, have games ever been postponed due to severe thunderstorms?

Yes. Here's all the info you could probably possibly want:


Given the nature of shifting seasons and the unpredictability of the Canadian climate, the CFL and the Management Council comprised of Club Presidents jointly developed a comprehensive weather protocol to address in-game situations where the safety of players, officials and fans may be affected by inclement weather. The protocol was negotiated into the CFL and CFLPA?s collective bargaining agreement this past spring.

The Game Supervisor, Stadium Security Director or Head Referee may stop the game at any point, but once the game becomes official at the 7:30 mark of the third quarter, only the Game Supervisor and Head Referee may stop the game.

Each outdoor stadium is equipped with an onsite weather station to determine exact measurements and the proximity of weather systems. While the protocol is specific to nearby lightning, similar standards can be applied in cases of extreme heat, excessive downpour, dangerous hail, poor air quality, etc., as advised by the league?s meteorologist.

When lightning strikes:
While active weather situations are monitored throughout gameday, the Game Supervisor and the CFL Command Centre will be notified if any lightning strikes occur within 25km of the stadium. In the event of a lightning strike within 10km, the Game Supervisor will automatically stop the game by contacting the Head Referee, who will then send teams to their dressing rooms, while notifying spectators that the game is under a weather delay.

The game may also be proactively halted if the league meteorologist foresees a weather system moving towards the stadium which would put players, officials and fans in any danger.

Regular season: Calling the game
If there is a stoppage greater than 60 minutes after the game becomes official at the midway point of the third quarter, the game will be considered final. Two points will be awarded to the leading team, and in the event of a tie when the game is stopped, each team will receive one point.

Before the halfway point of the third quarter, if the total stoppage time is more than three hours, the game will be cancelled, and players will NOT be required to play on the following day.

Based on historical data in which the leading team went on to win 98% of games, it was determined that a team will be awarded a victory and two points, if ahead by:
21+ points in the first quarter
17+ points in the second quarter
13+ points in the third quarter

https://www.cfl.ca/weather

bookmark this post cause we may need it....need to get a lead early...

Awesome, thanks for the info!

Hoping for no storms tomorrow, or a huge early lead for the Bombers! No slow starts allowed!

Perhaps a repeat of Aug. 3, 2016 tomorrow night. ;D

It better not be....

I was going to go to this game, but will probably wait until the last minute to decide and see what the forecast says.
I can handle the rain but not a long delay. The game vs. Hamilton a few years ago was a nightmare.

A decisive 37-11 win over the Ti-Cats...? ???

Or are you referring to the insane weather delay? :D

Well, a pick 6 on the Cats first play from scrimmage would be nice to repeat! The whole first half of that game was a pretty impressive beat down IIRC.

Obviously the insane delay!

That's fair. That was a crazy long night!

Of all the games this weekend I think this one has the biggest chance for an upset, Collaros may pull it off, but it's going to be close.

oh just go do not be so well princely lol. We hung out with Nigel Dawes and Dustin Boyd for a hour or two. I thought we filled out the time nicely. ;D

Get on your bikes and ride! - Freddie Mercury

You forgot the rest... which is important as those points differentials are not met very often.

If the teams meet again later in the season, they do a 2-possession each starting at center field shootout.  If they don't meet again, each team gets 1 point.

Ya, I understand the need to keep things within a sane time window (like F1 did a couple of years back).  But I don't think many people will be happy with the weird possibly outcomes if the game is called early.

Yes, there is more of an imperative to get an early lead, and a big lead if possible.  Don't save the big guns for the 4th (like WPG does).

Luckily, 3 hours is a lot time to wait the storm out.  WPG storms aren't often that long.

I pretty sure Freddie meant a motorcycle dude not a bicycle. lol

That forecast is not shifting at all.  Need some unexpected winds to blow this thing away!

fingers crossed

I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike. - Freddie Mercury

"Bicycle Race" is a single by the British rock band Queen. It was released on their 1978 album Jazz and written by Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury.

I owned that album.

I my mind I like to think motorcycle because Freddie was a rebel and rebels riders Motorcycle.

The video is unforgettable, a hundred nekid women riding bicycles.

Gotta say the forecast looks like shite tomorrow night!  >:(

Yay!  It looks like it all blew in faster than expected.  They have moved the "strong" thunderstorms earlier in to the afternoon.  By 7pm it should just be lingering rain.  This is very good news as, if this holds, we don't have to worry about a/much lightning delay.

East and NE wind during gametime means my nosebleed west side C seats will be nice and dry.  ;D ;D

100-level peeps, and those in the "wrong" 200 areas are gonna wanna bringo la poncho.  And don't forget to bring a towel!

The only question left is: shorts or pants?

Wow! Goldmember you are wrong. 

yup do not Forget your towel- Towelie

Shorts or um Gold MC Hammer pants to go with my Lamar McGriggs WHite game worn to be gamer for white out thingy. First time GOLDIE will not be sporting his Gold jersey with get up. 8)

It sounds like we will get rain during the game but the thunderstorms look like they will hit before game time, sometime in the afternoon. I don't expect a rain delay.

Unjinx special,

The thunderstorm risk hourly thing keeps changing.  On my way out now and I'm going to bet on no t.storms, but it's back on the radar again.  Should all be over by 9pm though so even if there is lightning, it won't run the 3 hours and we will get a full game.

Then a spitting rain as we all leave the stadium.

The weather will favor a run game.  Who has the better one??

I checked out the linked CFL weather page. As Ron Popeil would say, "But wait - there's more!"

Short of the point differential:
If the teams DO NOT PLAY each other again, the weather-delayed game will be considered a tie and both teams will be awarded one point.

If the teams DO PLAY each other again, the teams will participate in a two-possession shootout prior to their next meeting, whereby:

Each team gets two possessions starting at the 55-yard line to commence their shootout drive. For each point scored prior to the weather stoppage, teams gain one-yard towards the opposition?s endzone, which determines the club?s starting point for each drive.
e. If Team A leads Team B (15-0) in the weather-delayed game, Team A would start both drives at the 40-yard line, while Team B would begin both drives from the 55-yard line.
The team which trailed the weather-delayed game starts both possessions. If the suspended game was tied, the visiting club starts both. Teams alternate for the four total drives.
The leading team prior to the delay determines which end the opposition drives towards. If tied, the home team chooses.
If a touchdown is scored, the team must go for two points.
The winner of the two-possession shootout is awarded two points for the suspended game, while a tie results in both teams receiving one point.
Following the shootout, there will be a normal quarter break before the new game commences.

Its 530pm and I live about a mile from the stadium and it is absolutely pouring with lightning and thunder. Hopefully this will pass by before the game starts but it would not surprise me if the game is delayed a bit

Yeah should pass in at worst a couple hours.  Maybe a one hour delay?  Always hockey in TV!

Nice.  I?ll waive from my wet seats!

Cjob says no players on field until 715 so delay

No wet seats. A beautiful evening for football. So far. At halftime.  8)

Yup, all turned out as good as could be hoped for.  45ish min delay total and a great, uninterrupted game.  Was it just me or did the refs move speedily all night in lining up the ball, etc.  Maybe less ad breaks too?  The game seemed to fly by at IGF.

Nice night for ball!