By: AndySlater
The Miami Dolphins are scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason home opener on Saturday night. The tropics may have different plans for them.
Tropical Storm Erika was born on Monday night and is projected to continue to track toward the Bahamas for the next four days. The National Hurricane Center has forecast Erika to become a hurricane as it approaches the Bahamas.
If the current projected track holds, a storm watch or warning would likely be issued for parts of Florida as early as Saturday. Right now, there's much uncertainty with Erika as with any tropical system. On Tuesday, weather officials said their confidence in the storm's forecast track is "low".
When asked about alternative plans for Saturday night's game, including the possibility of playing earlier in the day, NFL spokesman Michael Signora said the league has "been in touch with both clubs and will continue to monitor the situation throughout the week."
Should the Dolphins or NFL move the game to an earlier than scheduled kickoff, it wouldn't be the first time. In 2004, the Dolphins' regular-season home opener was changed from Sunday to Saturday due to a Hurricane Ivan threat. One year later, the Chiefs were forced to fly to Miami early and play on a Friday because of impending Hurricane Wilma.
