Today's NFL tailgates will need to navigate two very different weather threats. Extreme heat continues to grip the Southeast, with Tennessee facing the toughest conditions of the entire slate. Scattered storms threaten outdoor tailgate plans in the Midwest, Florida, the Plains and the Northeast. Here's what fans need to know before heading out to their tailgate this weekend.

(WEATHER LABS: Football tailgate forecasts)

Cowboys and Titans feeling the heat

Tennessee's heat story continues into Sunday, as the Titans face the same brutal conditions with feels-like temperatures near 100 degrees. With no roof at Nissan Stadium, Titans fans get zero relief from tailgate through kickoff, making this the toughest heat setup of the weekend.

The Eagles are taking no chances, arriving in Nashville one day earlier to begin acclimating to the extreme heat ahead of Sunday's matchup — a deliberate move to prepare for conditions their roster isn't used to.

(MORE: The top 10 weather games In NFL history)

The Cowboys aren't far behind. Despite AT&T Stadium's retractable roof, tailgaters outside won't feel any benefit — the roof only helps once fans are inside. That makes the Cowboys' pregame scene one of the NFL's toughest, even if relief eventually comes once the game begins.

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The bigger risk is duration. Tailgaters who arrive early and stay outside for hours, whether grilling in a parking lot or sitting through a full slate of pregame coverage, face heat exposure well before kickoff even happens.

(MORE: 5 things you should know to stay safe during a heat wave)

(MORE: Heat can turn deadly fast. Here’s what your body is trying to tell you)

Thunderstorms to impact several NFL tailgates

Kansas City faces the threat of thunderstorms Sunday, making for a tough tailgate scene as fans outside Arrowhead contend with scattered storms rolling through before kickoff.

Beyond the heat, storms threaten tailgates in several other regions Sunday:

• Midwest (Chicago) — Scattered showers
• Northeast (New England, New York) — Scattered showers
• Southeast/Mid-Atlantic (Tampa Bay, Baltimore) — Scattered showers
• Rockies (Denver) — Isolated showers
• Plains (Kansas City) — Thunderstorms

Tailgaters in these areas should have a covered backup plan and watch radar closely as storm timing could shift throughout the day.

(MORE: The ultimate tailgate playbook for every football forecast)

Tailgate safety: know your forecast, stay aware

Whether you're facing heat or storms this weekend, staying aware of changing conditions — and having a plan to adjust — is the best way to stay safe at your tailgate:

• Check the forecast for your specific tailgate location and arrival time, not just the daily high, since conditions can shift significantly between morning setup and kickoff
• Heat safety: Stay hydrated, seek shade whenever possible, take breaks in air conditioning if available, and know the signs of heat exhaustion — dizziness, heavy sweating, and nausea
• Storm safety: Monitor local radar in the hours before and during your tailgate, since storm timing can shift quickly
• Lightning safety: If thunder roars, go indoors — a hard-topped vehicle counts if no building is nearby. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before heading back outside
• Secure your setup: Tents, canopies, and loose gear should be tied down or ready to pack up quickly if storms move in

Faiza Mohammed is a meteorologist intern at weather.com. She studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs team at the University of Georgia. She also received her master's in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.