The 2012 Winter Classic will be played outside with no roof to shield fans from the elements, a flashback to hockey many people are familiar with, hockey played on a frozen pond with breath that shows up as smoke in the air and perhaps a wintry mix of snow flakes falling from the sky.
The atmosphere is exciting and unique, but it also gives fans another variable to pay attention to: the weather report.
According to Weather.com, the forecast for Jan. 2 -- when the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Rangers at 1 p.m. at Citizen's Bank Park -- contains just a 10 percent chance of precipitation as of 12:35 p.m. ET on Dec. 28. The high temperature for the day is expected to reach 42 degrees, but the wind could be harsh on those who attend the game: gusts are expected to come from the west at 22 MPH.
For more on the Winter Classic, check out SB Nation Philly's StoryStream. For more on the Flyers, visit our team page or our blog, Broad Street Hockey.