Super Bowl forecast shows mild weather

An early weather forecast has suggested that Sunday's Super Bowl will be played in average winter conditions in New Jersey.

The weather has played a major role in the build-up to this season's Super Bowl, with the event taking place outdoors in a cold-weather climate for the first time in history.

AccuWeather is forecasting that the temperature will hit a high of 36°F (2°C) on Sunday, with the possibility of snow showers during the match.

That would make it, as expected, the coldest Super Bowl in history, breaking the previous record of 39°F (4°C) in New Orleans in 1972.

The area has been hit by heavy snowfall over the last week or so, leaving many of the outdoor practice pitches frozen, but the likelihood of a Super Bowl blizzard is now thought to be slim.

However, the forecast is currently only an estimate, with an accurate prediction expected four days before the event.

"We're pretty confident that temperatures will be close to normal, the 30s, by the time the weekend rolls around," meteorologist Jeff Smith told WABC-TV.

Sunday's spectacle will see the top seeds from the AFC and NFC go head-to-head, as well as pitting the league's best offense against the league's best defense as the Denver Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks.