Monday's Group I matchup between Norway and Senegal at 8 pm ET at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, faces a significant threat of postponement due to thunderstorm and flash flood alerts blanketing the tri-state region.

Precipitation is forecast to exceed one inch per hour beginning in the mid-afternoon, triggering flood alerts that could impact official World Cup fan zones established throughout Manhattan for Monday's match. Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement urging "New Yorkers [to] take this weather seriously and make plans [early] to stay safe."

Wind gusts could climb as high as 60 miles per hour. The National Weather Service has declared an official flash flood warning, as per The Mirror US.

Senegal is hoping to bounce back from a hard-fought 3-1 defeat to France last Tuesday, while Norway seeks to capitalize on its momentum from a 4-1 victory over Iraq.

New York/New Jersey Stadium, operating as MetLife Stadium year-round as home to the NFL's New York Jets and New York Giants, features robust drainage infrastructure and should be capable of rapidly clearing any standing water.

Lightning strikes, however, present a separate challenge. FIFA regulations require that action must halt following a lightning strike and cannot continue until 30 minutes have passed without another occurrence.

The 8 pm kickoff may be pushed well into the night, as FIFA imposes no restrictions on delay duration before resuming play. Speaking exclusively with The Mirror, Philadelphia Soccer World Cup 2026 chief operating officer Lauren Lambrugo detailed the protocol following a lightning strike.

"They'll start evacuating the stadium to the main concourse and seeking emergency shelter. And then it has to wait 30 minutes prior to them bringing everybody back on the field," she explained.

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Mamdani published an extensive post on X detailing how New Yorkers should prepare for the incoming storm. "Rain will likely begin late in the morning, intensify throughout the afternoon, and continue overnight," he wrote on X.

"We may experience severe thunderstorms with wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph. Plan now to stay safe during dangerous conditions.

"Exercise caution while traveling. Take public transit whenever possible. Never walk, bike, or drive through floodwaters. If rain and storms are severe, seek shelter indoors and wait for conditions to improve before traveling. No destination is worth risking your safety. Stay out of flooded basements.

"The City has been coordinating since Thursday to prepare for the storms. "Agencies have cleared catch basins across the city and performed targeted inspections of flood-prone neighborhoods. The Downed Tree Task Force is on alert to respond to fallen trees or branches. The Tow Truck Task Force is prepared to assist stranded vehicles."

Source: Alloutsoccer.com