{
  "id": "2025-09-13-ross-ade-stadium-purdue-usc-storm-evacuation",
  "slug": "ross-ade-stadium-purdue-usc-storm-evacuation-2025-09-13",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Purdue University",
    "shortName": "Purdue",
    "state": "IN",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Purdue ALERT",
    "enrollment": 53000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2025-09-13",
    "type": "evacuation",
    "cleryCategory": "advisory",
    "headline": "Evacuation, September 13, 2025",
    "summary": "Severe storms with [more than 900 lightning strikes and 1.25 inches of rain](https://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/mens/football/ross-ade-stadium-purdue-weather-storm-usc-delay/article_de5e3d81-35d2-4f63-ae1b-ec4596867040.html) forced the evacuation of Ross-Ade Stadium ahead of Purdue's game against USC, with [teams pulled from the field at 3:11 p.m. ET and fans sent to nearby buildings](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/purdue-football-game-vs-usc-192828478.html). Fans were directed to Mackey Arena, Holloway Gymnasium and Lambert Fieldhouse during a delay that lasted more than three hours.",
    "outcome": "After a delay of more than three hours, play resumed and the game was completed; the stadium was evacuated and fans sheltered at Mackey Arena, Holloway Gymnasium and Lambert Fieldhouse.",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat"
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2025-09-13T15:18:43-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Due to inclement weather in the area today's game won't start at the original 3:40 PM ET kickoff. \n\nStay tuned for updates.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/BoilerFootball/status/1966944649391509616",
      "sourceDescription": "@BoilerFootball on X (verbatim)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from official @BoilerFootball status 1966944649391509616",
        "Corrected to exact fxtwitter display text."
      ],
      "characterCount": 123
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2025-09-13T17:50:43-04:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "🚨 GAME TIME UPDATE 🚨\n\nGates will open at 6:15 PM ET and kickoff is set for 6:45 PM ET.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/BoilerFootball/status/1966982901138157862",
      "sourceDescription": "@BoilerFootball on X (verbatim)",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact text from official @BoilerFootball status 1966982901138157862",
        "Corrected to exact fxtwitter display text."
      ],
      "characterCount": 88
    }
  ],
  "context": "Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette evacuates when lightning is sighted within 10 miles, an automatic trigger of a 30-minute delay that resets with each strike. On September 13, 2025, the 3:30 p.m. ET matchup against USC was disrupted when [teams were pulled at 3:11 p.m. ET and fans were evacuated](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/purdue-football-game-vs-usc-192828478.html) to nearby buildings. The [Purdue Exponent reported over 900 lightning strikes and 1.25 inches of rain](https://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/mens/football/ross-ade-stadium-purdue-weather-storm-usc-delay/article_de5e3d81-35d2-4f63-ae1b-ec4596867040.html), and [Yahoo Sports reported the game finally began after a delay lasting over three hours](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/purdue-football-game-vs-usc-192828988.html), with fans directed to Mackey Arena, Holloway Gymnasium and Lambert Fieldhouse.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "More than 900 lightning strikes and 1.25 inches of rain accompanied the evacuation",
    "Purdue evacuates when lightning is within 10 miles, with a 30-minute clock that resets on each strike",
    "Fans sheltered at Mackey Arena, Holloway Gymnasium and Lambert Fieldhouse during a 3-plus-hour delay",
    "Alert text is reconstructed from press reporting, so it carries isVerbatimConfirmed: false"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Rain at Ross-Ade delays game for hours - Purdue Exponent",
      "url": "https://www.purdueexponent.org/sports/mens/football/ross-ade-stadium-purdue-weather-storm-usc-delay/article_de5e3d81-35d2-4f63-ae1b-ec4596867040.html",
      "type": "student-newspaper"
    },
    {
      "title": "Purdue football game vs USC delayed, Ross-Ade Stadium evacuated - Yahoo Sports",
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/article/purdue-football-game-vs-usc-192828478.html",
      "type": "national-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Purdue football game vs USC begins after weather delay lasting over 3 hours - Yahoo Sports",
      "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/article/purdue-football-game-vs-usc-192828988.html",
      "type": "national-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "@BoilerFootball 1966944649391509616",
      "url": "https://x.com/BoilerFootball/status/1966944649391509616",
      "type": "official-social"
    },
    {
      "title": "@BoilerFootball 1966982901138157862",
      "url": "https://x.com/BoilerFootball/status/1966982901138157862",
      "type": "official-social"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "evacuation",
    "severe-storm",
    "lightning",
    "weather-delay",
    "stadium",
    "indiana",
    "game-day"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-28",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-18",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}