NFL Conference Championships: Snow, ice may create travel woes for fans in Charlotte and Denver

By Katy Galimberti, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

January 21,2016; 10:30AM,EST

 

 

Four teams will vie for their shot at Super Bowl 50 during the AFC and NFC Conference Championship games this weekend.
The Denver Broncos will take on the New England Patriots, and the Carolina Panthers will face against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
While both games are played outdoors, no major weather concerns are expected for either game, AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.
The winners will face each other in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 7.
Carson Palmer will lead the Cardinals against the Panthers and Cam Newton, marking the first time Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks will face each other in a playoff game in modern NFL history.
Check out the forecast for these two marquee match-ups:
New England vs. Denver: 3:05 p.m. EST Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes over the rush by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) in the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will square off for the 17th time on Sunday in their quest for another Super Bowl appearance.
Temperatures will hover in the low to middle 40s F, around average for this time of year. Skies will be mostly cloudy, but snow could fall in spots during the game. However, no accumulations are expected until the evening.
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Fans should be on alert during post-game travel as snow could coat roadways in the area.
Sunday's match-up will be a sequel to Week 12's Patriots vs. Broncos game, also held in Denver. The Broncos defeated the Patriots 30 to 24 with Brock Osweiler filling in for an injured Manning.
Arizona vs. Charlotte: 6:40 p.m. EST Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) signifies a first down against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
A week after slippery field conditions for the NFC Divisional game at Bank of America Stadium, ice and freezing rain leading up to this Sunday's game could create similar issues.
Pete Carroll, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, called the turf "lousy." Panthers head coach Ron Rivera noted that both teams had to play on the same field.
An icy mix will create travel concerns in the days before the game. Fans traveling around the city or from the north may see flight delays and slower travel on the roads.
By game day, the storm will have exited the region leaving sunny, dry skies behind. Temperatures will hover in the mid-40s during the day for any tailgating festivities. By kickoff, temperatures will drop into the mid-30s.