Weather to cooperate with star QBs in NFC title game

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passes the ball before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Super Bowl puzzle is nearly complete.

The NFL's final four is set and will be narrowed to two teams following a pair of high-stakes conference championship games this Sunday.

So far this postseason, weather hasn't played a significant factor. With both games on Sunday taking place in the elements, there's a chance for Mother Nature to leave her mark on the outcome of a game.

Fortunately, or unfortunately for those looking for a snow bowl to unfold, this weekend will bring little in the way of major weather disruptions in Santa Clara, California, and Kansas City, Missouri, as large storm systems move out of the respective regions just in the nick of time for kickoff.

Here's a detailed look at the forecasts for the NFC and AFC championship games.

AFC championship game: Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs - 3:05 p.m. EST

For the second-straight season, the AFC championship will be decided at Arrowhead Stadium, after quarterback Patrick Mahomes orchestrated was one of the greatest comebacks in NFL playoff history.

Last year, the Chiefs lost in heartbreaking fashion to the New England Patriots in overtime on a day when AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures dropped into the teens due to an invasion of Arctic air.

This year, they'll welcome the Tennessee Titans to town. The Titans, who vanquished the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens last weekend, are seeking their second Super Bowl appearance in team history, while the Chiefs are looking to play on Super Bowl Sunday for the first time since Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970.

These two teams met back in Week 10 with the Titans defeating the Chiefs 35-32 in Nashville.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Another cold but dry day is expected at Arrowhead on Sunday, with below-normal temperatures forecast.

A high in the 20s is expected throughout the duration of the game; a normal high for Jan. 19 in Kansas City is 39 F.

AccuWeather meteorologists say a slight northerly breeze at 6-12 mph should not play a huge factor in passes and kicks but will help lower AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures about 5-10 degrees below the actual thermometer reading.

Fans journeying to Kansas City prior to the weekend may encounter travel delays as a storm system moves through the area from Thursday night into Friday. In fact, last year, AccuWeather spoke with a Chiefs superfan who shared some of his tips for staying warm at games when the weather is frigid. Fans at Arrowhead on Sunday may want to follow his advice this Sunday.

NFC championship game: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - 6:40 p.m. EDT

A rematch of a lopsided Week 12 matchup will determine who represents the NFC in Miami on Feb. 2.

During that late November contest, the 49ers defeated the Packers handily by a score of 37-8 at Levi's Stadium. Now, Aaron Rodgers will lead his team back into Santa Clara to try to get revenge on the top-seeded 49ers and head to his second Super Bowl.

For the 49ers, a franchise that already holds five Lombardi Trophies, they will be looking to return to the big game for the first time since the 2012 season and win their first Super Bowl since the 1994 season.

As these two historic teams meet again, AccuWeather meteorologists say they will do so under a partly sunny sky on what will be a beautiful California day.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, greets Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

On Sunday morning, temperatures will start in the lower 50s F, so fans may want to wear a jacket or other layers that can be removed by kickoff when temperatures climb to near 60 F. By the second half, temperatures will dip back into the 50s. A normal high temperature for Jan. 19 in Santa Clara is 58 F.

The weather conditions expected on Sunday will be very similar to what the two teams played under during the Packers' late-November visit to Levi's Stadium. Winds are expected to remain light and will not be a factor in the two star quarterbacks' passing games.

The only questions is: Will the result, like the weather, be similar?

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.