Dips, Chips And Forecast Tips: Transform Your Super Bowl Menu Based On Your Weather
According to Google Trends, Americans have been searching for their favorite appetizer over the past few weeks and they're looking for crowd-pleasing flavors that everyone can recognize.
Dips are easy to make and can feed crowds of people efficiently. These communal dishes encourage sharing and socializing, which every good host knows are the keys to a successful watch party. And on a cold winter game night, they can warm guests up with a little heat, spice and zing.
This year's winner? Buffalo Chicken Dip, the easier-to-eat-than-wings party staple, dominates in 13 states, including much of the Northeast. But other hot dishes are in close competition: Queso and Cheese Dip variations are also very popular this year in the South.
So let's add one more ingredient to these party recipes… the weather. And whether you're dealing with cold temperatures, mild winter days or leftover snow and ice, we have your dips. You just have to buy the chips.
Many, many parties will feature Buffalo Chicken Dip. This recipe from Brown Eyed Baker is an easy classic that features three different layers of flavors, focusing on the power trio that is hot sauce, chicken and cheese. Try corn chips as an alternative dipper to complement these sharp, pungent flavors.
What's the Weather There?
'Just like that one person you invite to your Super Bowl party who has to leave early, Winter Storm Garnett should leave New England by afternoon. It will be breezy, but not as cold as it could be this time of year,' said senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman.
Switch up the flavor profile and give a nod to Kansas City-style barbecue with a tomato-based, sweet and smoky dip. Toss ingredients into a slow cooker if you wish, and allow the thicker, sweeter KC BBQ dish to bubble away until game time. Creme de la Crumb offers an easy recipe that you can make ahead of time. Serve this with crusty bread to make it more like a meal.
What's The Weather There?
'Like the chips left on your plate, after you ate all the dip, much of the central U.S. will be dry. Not shockingly, it will be cold, too,' according to Erdman.
Looking for an Instagram-worthy choice that's popular with partygoers? Many states in the South are searching for recipes for cheese dip or queso. This dip works for all ages and that trendy cheese pull is oh-so-satisfying with a salty tortilla chip. Customize with taco meat, peppers, tomatoes or even bacon to make it your own, as this recipe from Simply Recipes suggests.
What's The Weather There?
Erdman has this to say to Southerners: 'Floridians, including snowbirds and other tourists, just take your chips and queso, some towels, a good book and hang out at the beach all day. Make sure to tease your friends in cold places on social media. And you can still make it home in time for the big game.'
Guacamole is a traditional cold dip that's fresh, healthy and delicious, but we're offering a twist on the classic with this avocado dip recipe from My Baking Addiction. And the best part? This dish can be made as mild or as spicy as you want. It's smooth and creamy, thanks to ingredients like sour cream and cream cheese. Make it a few hours before the party and chill it in the refrigerator until kickoff.
What's The Weather There?
'Take that spread of food and a TV outside on the patio if you're in the Southwest Sunday. Can we come over around 5 p.m.? We'll bring whatever you want. If you're in the northern Rockies, go skiing first, then load up on chips and dip at the bar after,' said Erdman.
I Predict 6 More Weeks Of Baking: Banana Bread
Meal In A Bowl: Italian Wedding Soup
Winter's Cheesy, Cozy Comfort Food: Homemade Macaroni And Cheese
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Americans Warned To Keep 'Out of the Water' in 9 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Americans have been warned to stay out of the water in nine states due to high waves, rip currents and life-threatening swimming conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple beach hazards messages on Monday, covering shorelines in New York, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. Why It Matters The warnings note that waves could sweep people off piers, and strong currents could pull swimmers into deeper water. The NWS said that the conditions could pose a threat to life, particularly for inexperienced swimmers. A rip current warning sign on the shores of Lake Michigan in 2013. A rip current warning sign on the shores of Lake Michigan in 2013. Steve Perez/The Detroit News/AP What To Know In New York, beach hazard statements are in effect for shorelines in Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, and Oswego counties. "Stay out of the water to avoid dangerous swimming conditions," the NWS said. In Wisconsin, beaches in multiple counties along Lake Michigan are expected to see dangerous swimming conditions. The NWS warned of high waves and dangerous currents. Beaches that are forecast to see the worst conditions include those at Rock Island State Park, Baileys Harbor, Whitefish Dunes, Cresent Beach, Kewaunee, Point Beach, Neshotah, and Red Arrow Beach. "Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers," the NWS said. In Illinois, Lake Michigan beaches in northern and central Cook County could see waves between three and five feet, according to the NWS. The agency warned that conditions could be "life threatening, especially for inexperienced swimmers," and that locals are also advised to avoid shoreline structures such as piers, jetties, or breakwaters. There is also a high risk of rip currents through Monday evening due to "wind and wave action" in Pennsylvania's Erie County, and Ohio's Ottawa, Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Ashtabula counties. "Swimmers should not enter the water... currents can carry swimmers away from shore through a sand bar and along structures extending out into the lake," the NWS said. Meanwhile in Michigan, Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties are forecast to face "high waves of three to six feet and rip currents." Additional beach hazards statements are in force in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina through Monday evening. "Hurricane Erin has once again strengthened overnight, and is a very powerful Category 4 storm," the NWS forecast office in Newport/Morehead City, North Carolina, said on Monday. "Despite the storm still forecast to remain offshore, impacts will be extremely dangerous for parts of Coastal Eastern North Carolina." What People Are Saying The NWS forecast office in Cleveland, Ohio, said on X, Sunday: "Winds on Lake Erie increase to 15-20 knots behind a cold front this afternoon. Wave heights building to three to six feet will lead to a high risk of rip currents. A Small Craft Advisory and Beach Hazards Statement are in effect from this afternoon through Monday evening." The NWS forecast office in Green Bay, Wisconsin, said on X, Sunday: "The Small Craft Advisory and Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect through most of Monday. Be aware of high waves and strong currents." What Happens Next The beach hazards statements are currently set to remain in effect through Monday evening. Regular forecast updates regarding marine and water conditions are issued on the NWS website.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Millions Across 18 States Told to Stay Out of Sun, Check on Neighbors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans across 18 states have been told to keep out of the sun this weekend and the next couple of days as weather forecasters warn of sweltering temperatures that could cause heat exhaustion and even heat strokes. Why It Matters The Earth's temperature has risen by an average 0.11 degrees Fahrenheit every decade since 1850, according to data by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for a total of 2 degrees Fahrenheit as of this year. As a result, summers are getting hotter than they used to be—with dangerous consequences for one's health. Last summer was the hottest on record for the planet and for several U.S. states, with Las Vegas reporting an average temperature of 96.5 degrees Fahrenheit—up 7.3 degrees from the norm. Even parts of the country that used to have relatively mild summers are now sizzling in the heat, putting the most vulnerable residents—including the elderly, babies, and young children—at risk of suffering heat-related illnesses. What To Know As of Sunday, residents in 18 states were under heat advisories issued by the National Weather Service (NWS), including in parts of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. A map produced by the National Weather Service (NWS) showing the states currently under heat advisories as of Sunday. A map produced by the National Weather Service (NWS) showing the states currently under heat advisories as of Sunday. National Weather Service Fayette, Lamar, and Pickens counties in Alabama will be under a heat advisory until Sunday evening, as they are likely to face temperatures up to 108. The state's Greene, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties face hot temperatures and high humidity until about 7 p.m. CDT on Sunday. Portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, and Mississippi face temperatures of up to 110 between Sunday morning and evening. Within the same time frame, parts of Iowa and Nebraska could see temperatures reach 106. A heat advisory is also in place until Sunday evening in portions of east central and northeast Kansas, where temperatures will reach up to 105, and in north and central Texas, where heat index values could reach up to 107 degrees. Much of Arkansas will remain under heat advisory until Monday, as temperatures could climb up to 109. Parts of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri will remain under heat advisories until Tuesday. In all these areas, experts are encouraging residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms and keep away from the scorching sun. Those who can should also check on relatives and neighbors, and make sure children and pets are not left unattended inside a vehicle under the sun under any circumstance. Those spending time outdoors should take precautions such as wearing loose clothes and drink a lot of water. The NWS also encourages people under heat advisories to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion or an incoming heat stroke. These include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and muscle cramps, in the case of heat exhaustion, and a high body temperature and altered mental state for a heat stroke. What People Are Saying NWS Phoenix wrote on X on Sunday: "One of our forecasters braved the heat to take some temperature observations this afternoon. Make sure you're practicing smart heat safety by limiting your time outdoors & drinking plenty of water (and electrolytes). Also, remember to look before you lock." NWS Nashville wrote on X on Saturday: "Olé, olé! Buster knows the forecast. Check the forecast, people know what they got. People in Middle Tennessee will be hot, hot, hot. MAJOR to EXTREME Heat Risk. Our message is a little funny, but please take the heat seriously as we push through the dog days. Rum bum bum bum." What Happens Next? While the heat advisories currently in place across the country are bound to be lifted by Tuesday at the latest.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
‘Real feel' temps are a real joke — don't trust sensational heat-index claims
Every summer, sweltering Americans — myself included — fall for a meteorological scam as we seek information about the day's oppressive heat. That's because the 'feels like' or 'heat index' measurement blaring from our radios or posted on our weather apps isn't a measurement at all. TV meteorologists across the nation trumpet the 'heat index' as a headline number, but in fact it's just a calculated estimate — not something that can be gauged, like air temperature, humidity or barometric pressure. Advertisement Its overuse smacks more of sensationalism than scientific clarity, and plays into a destructive narrative of climate hysteria. The heat index is a formula that did not exist at all until it was developed by the US National Weather Service in 1979. It combines actual air temperature and relative humidity into an approximate 'apparent' temperature — shifting as humidity goes higher or lower. Advertisement The NWS heat-index equation attempts to predict the heat that humans perceive, assuming shaded, low-wind conditions and a generic adult body type — ignoring sunlight, wind, individual physiology, hydration, age, weight, health status and multiple other variables. But it ignores the fact that all individuals experience heat differently: An elderly person or someone with cardiac issues may overheat faster than a young, fit adult, for example. Weathercasters do us a great disservice by inflating the heat index's importance and morphing it into a headline-grabbing marketing tool. Many outlets now forefront the bloated 'feels like' temperature while sidestepping the real air temperature that matters for energy use, infrastructure and actual thermal load. Advertisement Examples of this behavior are too numerous to count. WFLA in Tampa, Fla., recently announced an all-time-high heat index figure as the highest 'ever recorded.' It wasn't recorded at all; it was a calculated estimate. You're increasingly likely to hear predictions like 'today's high will be 104 degrees!' on a humid day when the real thermometer reads 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Advertisement Ginger Zee of 'Good Morning America' last month defended her prominent use of the heat index, calling it 'the most important number that you need to know.' 'We show heat index because that is what a human feels,' she explained. 'If I were forecasting for inanimate objects . . . I would keep it with temperature.' The problem with over-relying on the heat index is that viewers may think the air temperature is 10 or more degrees hotter than it actually is, making it even more difficult to plan outdoor activities, make clothing choices or calculate heating or cooling needs. The fact is, sun exposure, wind and metabolic heat production are often more relevant to how you feel on a hot day — important factors for which the heat index does not account. Worse yet, reporters at outlets such as The Washington Post and Climate Central often seek to link high heat-index values to 'climate change.' But there is no causal link between global climate change and the heat index formula, despite frequent media implications. Climate change isn't driving heat-index estimates — city environments are. We know that urban areas are especially prone to the Urban Heat Island effect, a phenomenon causing cities to be 1 to 7 degrees hotter in the daytime and 2 to 5 degrees warmer at night than surrounding rural zones, due to pavement, buildings, reduced vegetation and anthropogenic heat. Advertisement Mapping efforts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have recorded UHI hotspots up to 20 degrees hotter. The UHI effect is not some fringe theory, but a well-documented fact that impacts heat index estimates. The EPA emphasizes that thermal differences in urban areas amplify heat risk far beyond background climate trends — and points out that heat waves and urban surfaces, not just global temperature, are the leading contributors to heat-related health events. Advertisement Lawn irrigation and widespread planting of non-native grasses over the past 50 years have contributed to local humidity rises — boosting heat-index values to the max. Anytime a forecast touts a 'temperature' wildly higher than the recorded official readings from the National Weather Service office, you're likely being misled. If broadcast meteorologists want to serve public understanding, they need to start showing the measured air temperature first and labeling the heat index properly, while educating audiences on the differences between them. Advertisement Let's stop pretending calculated 'feels like' values are real — and start reporting the actual heat, for real. Anthony Watts, a senior fellow for environment and climate at The Heartland Institute, operates the award-winning website
