Tens of thousands of World Cup fans heading to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Monday night are walking into a dangerous situation — and officials are sounding the alarm.
A flood watch is in effect for most of New Jersey, including the stadium area, from 2 p.m. through 6 a.m. Tuesday. Forecasters are warning of heavy waves of rain, possible thunderstorms, and up to 3 inches of rainfall during the Norway vs. Senegal match, which kicks off at 8 p.m.
“Bring wet weather gear, definitely leave early because traffic’s not going to be better during thunderstorms,” a National Weather Service meteorologist warned. “People should be prepared for a pretty inclement experience this evening.”
Making matters worse: fans are not allowed to bring umbrellas inside MetLife Stadium. There is virtually no parking at the venue, meaning nearly all attendees must arrive by ride share, train, or bus — all of which could face severe delays as storms intensify.
New Jersey’s governor issued a public warning urging fans and commuters to plan for possible delays and disruptions to traffic and transit service. A flood alert was also triggered for westbound Route 3 near the Garden State Parkway, with a lane and shoulder already closed Monday afternoon.
The Uber drop-off point sits 1.3 miles from the stadium entrance. All 12,000 shuttle bus seats from Manhattan and a New Jersey park-and-ride are sold out, leaving limited options for fans caught in the storm.
“Basically the gist is there’s not going to be a point where it’s dry for hours,” one meteorologist said — a stark contrast to the sunny conditions fans enjoyed at the previous two World Cup matches at the same venue.
Officials are urging anyone attending to leave well ahead of schedule and be ready for a night unlike anything earlier in this tournament.
