Alabama and Indiana Weather Updates: Latest on Rare Rain Forecast for 2026 Rose Bowl originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.
The 2026 Rose Bowl will take place on New Year’s Day, with the Indiana Hoosiers facing the Alabama Crimson Tide in one of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
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The Rose Bowl, a historic outdoor venue in Pasadena, California, is usually preceded by a lavish parade, thanks to the city’s generally excellent weather on the first day of the year. In 2026, however, the Crimson Tide and Hoosiers will face off not only against each other, but also against the elements.
While the Rose Bowl is known for its good weather, the forecast calls for heavy rain on Thursday, before and during the quarterfinal game.
Here are the latest weather updates for the CFP quarterfinal between Alabama and Indiana at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
LIVE: Follow Alabama vs. Indiana updates from the College Football Playoff
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Weather updates for Alabama and Indiana
All times Eastern (ET)
3:40 p.m.: As kickoff approaches, the rain appears to have stopped in Pasadena.
2:45 p.m.: The rain has started to let up in Pasadena. According to Kirk Herbstreit, the forecast appears to be clear by the time the Rose Bowl kicks off at 4 p.m. ET.
1:30 p.m.: All pregame festivities at the Rose Bowl were canceled due to weather. This does not include any walks on the grounds by the President and Family of the Tournament of Roses, the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade, and the Queen and Court of Roses. The group will also perform on the sidelines and not on the field.
12:45 p.m.: Rain causes cancellations at the Rose Bowl, not for the game, but for the pregame festivities. The B-2 Stealth Bomber flyby was canceled due to weather conditions.
11:30 a.m.: A little rain doesn’t stop the tailgating for Alabama-Indiana. Here’s a look at the parking lot for fans awaiting the Rose Bowl later this afternoon.
10:00 a.m.: Rain is falling in Pasadena, as it appears Mother Nature won’t cooperate with today’s Rose Bowl.
Pasadena Forecast for 2026 Rose Bowl
The start of the new year promises to be rainy in Pasadena, California. The forecast, according to AccuWeather, calls for a 99% chance of rain. The description states: “Heavy rain and a thunderstorm in the morning followed by a few showers in the afternoon; watch for flooding; wear rain gear for the parade and football game.” The high for the day is 64 and the low is 53.
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The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. local time. At kickoff, there’s a 60% chance of rain, and that continues until 3 p.m. PT. Then the rain chance drops to 49%, then to 34% at 4 p.m. PT, the time the game is expected to end.
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Why does the Rose Bowl start early?
The Rose Bowl historically started at 5 p.m. ET or 2 p.m. PT. With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, the Rose Bowl is now included in the College Football Quarterfinal and Semifinal rotation. This year’s Rose Bowl is part of the quarterfinals and will be played as part of a three-game quarterfinal tripleheader on New Year’s Day.
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The Rose Bowl was moved up an hour to accommodate the other two quarterfinal games. The Orange Bowl will begin at noon ET and the Sugar Bowl will begin at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN broadcasts every game and wanted a four-hour window for each game so that one game wouldn’t coincide with another.
How often does it rain in Pasadena?
Pasadena measures on average 20.4 inches tall it rains every year. The city receives an average of 3.2 inches of rain in January, the second wettest month of the year. Overall, the city tends to receive rain on average 36 or 37 days per year.
