The season opener between the Minnesota Gophers and the North Carolina Tar Heels could be a tough one for Mother Nature as severe storms are expected to hit the Twin Cities metropolitan area later on Thursday.

With the game set to start at 7 p.m. CT, it’s a matter of whether storms — assuming they develop and reach the Twin Cites — will impact the area before or during the game. If the storms arrive while the Gophers and Tar Heels are playing, delays are expected due to torrential rain, frequent lightning and the potential for damaging winds.

The latest output from the HRRR weather model, one of the more reliable short-term models used by meteorologists, shows a strong line of storms moving through Minneapolis around 7 p.m., with rain on the backside of the line, possibly for the duration of the game.

The NCAA’s lightning safety protocol requires a suspension or delay if lightning strikes within eight miles of the stadium. Once a delay is requested, the game must wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or the last sound of thunder before resuming.

In short: there is a good chance that Thursday’s season opener will be postponed.