A general overall aerial view of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The stadium is the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys kick off the 2025 NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 4. USA TODAY Sports provides live updates, highlights, storylines and more for the matchup.

The 2025 NFL season is set to kick off Thursday night with a battle between the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and their divisional rival, the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFC East rivals may be forced to battle the elements as they look to start the season with a win.

There is a 60% chance of precipitation during Thursday's contest. More concerningly, severe thunderstorms could develop during it, which is being played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

If those storms – which could cause 40 mph wind gusts and hail – develop near the stadium, that could cause the first NFL game of 2025 to be delayed.

Here's what to know about the weather for Thursday night's Eagles vs. Cowboys season opener.

Eagles vs. Cowboys weather updates

The Eagles and Cowboys nearly made it through three quarters of their Thursday night opener before it was delayed by lightning in the area.

With 4:44 left in the third quarter, referee Shawn Smith announced the game was being suspended due to lightning in the area. Fans were instructed to vacate the stands while players from both teams retreated to the locker room.

Mike Tirico revealed on the NBC broadcast of the game the NFL is planning to resume the contest at about 11:30 p.m. ET. Players will return to the field at 11:15 p.m. and they will have 12 minutes to warm up before play resumes.

Before the game, ominous clouds lurked near Lincoln Financial Field and rain fell intermittently. However, there was no lightning in the area, so the game was able to begin as scheduled.

The clouds before kickoff were considerably darker than they were earlier in the day. Below is a look at how the skies looked when Cowboys wide receiver and return man KaVontae Turpin was working out before the game.

Even earlier in the day, the skies in Philadelphia were clear. Just hours before kickoff, the Eagles shared a video of their empty stadium to "set the scene." The clip showed a partly cloudy sky at Lincoln Financial Field, and few visible signs of impending rain.

The benign conditions earlier in the day were to be expected. The rain is forecasted to begin around 8 p.m. ET, so NFL fans will want to continue watching the skies until kickoff to get a better picture of how the weather may impact Thursday's game.

Philadelphia weather forecast for Eagles vs. Cowboys

There is a chance of thunderstorms in Philadelphia on Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Below are the full details of Thursday's forecast.

  • High temperature: 84 degrees
  • Low temperature: 65 degrees
  • Chance of precipitation: 60%
  • Wind: 5-15 mph

The storms in the Philadelphia area are expected to develop around 8 p.m. ET, according to a Special Weather Statement by the NWS. It isn't clear exactly where the most severe ones will materialize, but the agency says that "a few thunderstorms could produce brief strong wind gusts near 40 mph and small hail."

The "scattered" storms are expected to mainly wrap up before 11 p.m. ET. Rainfall is expected to be "between a tenth and quarter of an inch," though the NWS noted the amount could be higher in areas where thunderstorms develop.

It isn't yet clear if the inclement weather will cause the NFL to delay Thursday's game. Even if it doesn't, expect the Eagles and Cowboys to deal with slick conditions in the first half if the rain arrives as scheduled.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eagles vs Cowboys weather updates: Thunderstorms, lightning delay game

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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