ORCHARD PARK - The tarp has been taken off the field at Highmark Stadium and the artificial turf looks as green as it always does.

As for the seats that nearly 70,000 fans will try to sit in Monday afternoon when the Buffalo Bills host the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild-card playoff game? Yeah, that’s not looking good at all.

Despite tremendous efforts from people who have been shoveling the seating bowl since approximately noon Sunday afternoon, and then did so overnight despite snow that was still raging, it is going to be an extremely uncomfortable experience for fans.

I would estimate that about 70% of the seats are encased in snow, and not only the seats but where fans would stand in front of their seats. And I’m not sure how that can be changed because you can’t bring your own shovel into the stadium once the gates open, and there would be nowhere to throw the snow even if you could.

The red premium seat areas were the priority and those are in pretty good shape, but as for the regular seats, it’s a mess.

Driving conditions to Highmark Stadium in Buffalo

Driving to Orchard Park was surprisingly easy as the Thruway was crystal clear from Rochester all the way until around exit 53 in the Niagara section, the exit that splits off to downtown Buffalo. From there until exit 55 which is where most people get off to go to the stadium, it was a little hairy because snow was coming down and the roads were partially covered.

Highmark Stadium weather now

As the day moves on, that snow band is forecast to move a little north so areas before exit 53 might see some snow, but obviously it’s night and day compared to Sunday.

In Orchard Park, the sun is shining, there is no snow falling, and the wind is not very strong at noon, 4 ½ hours before kickoff.

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana. To subscribe to Sal's newsletter, Bills Blast, which comes out twice a week during the season, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills stadium: Field in Highmark is clear, fan seats covered in snow