9:45 AM | Chilly tonight for Game 1 of the World Series, but not nearly as cold as in Cleveland's past
Paul Dorian
Temperature and wind chill trends for tonight's game in Cleveland, Ohio; courtesy cleveland.com
Overview
The World Series begins tonight in Cleveland, Ohio and the Indians and Cubs will be playing Game 1 under chilly conditions, but not nearly as cold as it has been in the past. Temperatures during tonight’s game are likely to drop from the middle 40’s into the lower 40’s, but winds should be relatively light – generally under 10 mph – meaning wind chills should not be a major factor. Game 2 on Wednesday night should be played under slightly milder conditions, but also with an increase in the threat for some shower activity. The World Series shifts to Chicago, Illinois on Friday night where temperatures are likely to be in the 50's for Game 3 - the first World Series game there since 1945.
Image during Game 4 of the 1997 World Series in Cleveland, Ohio - one of the coldest World Series games ever; courtesy espn.go.com
Past World Series games
In terms of the coldest World Series games ever (and the records are sketchy pre-1970’s as MLB did not track weather records), the most memorable game actually occurred in tonight's venue of Cleveland, Ohio during Game 4 of the 1997 World Series between the Indians and the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. The first-pitch temperature for that game was 38 degrees with a wind chill in the teens. Snow flurries fell throughout the game and ice patches actually formed on the infield. The first two games of that Series were played in Miami where temperatures were in the high 80’s. The second coldest game in recent history was the first game of the 1979 World Series in Baltimore, Maryland between the Orioles and Pirates with first-pitch temperatures right around 40 degrees and a steady, chilly rain falling.
Perhaps the most memorable World Series game with respect to overall weather conditions was Game 5 of the 2008 World Series between the Fighting Phils and the Tampa Bay Rays. That game began on October 27th with 50 degree temperatures and rain falling and it was suspended in the 6th inning as the rain simply became too heavy. The game could not be resumed on the next day as a powerful early season nor’easter continued to pound away on the Philadelphia metro region with a cold, steady rain and even several inches of accumulating snow in nearby Bucks County. Finally, two days after the game began, Game 5 resumed on a cold night in Philly with first-pitch temperatures at 44 degrees along with a gusty northwest wind - and the Phillies went on to clinch the title.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
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