The Winter Classic is finally here, and Thursday's weather is almost ideal -- despite a sun glare on the ice that had threatened a timely start to the game.
The glare led the National Hockey League to have the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks switch ends at the 10-minute mark of the first period, to eliminate any advantage created by the sun.
The sun's shadow will help the situation over the stadium by the middle of the game, said Storm Team 4 Meteorologist Veronica Johnson.
As for the weather, arctic air -- thanks to an arctic area of high pressure -- will keep the ice cold at Nationals Park, with temps in the 30s and a clear sky.
WEATHER FOR PREVIOUS WINTER CLASSICS
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Last year's Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was awfully cold, not only for spectators but for the players themselves, who battled temperatures in the teens and even snow on the ice. That, of course, made moving the puck more difficult.
Many of the other Winter Classics over the past five years have had borderline ideal conditions, with temps in the 40s.
