By Scott Martin.
With this being our first look at what we can expect for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama weekend on April 5th-7th, we are still too far out to call an official forecast. Once we get into seven days of raceday, then we can start giving an official forecast instead of what the models are trending.
As of now, we have inconsistencies in both of the long-range models for the weekend ahead. The GFS is painting that Friday will feature cloudy skies with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms possible with around 0.50 inches of rain falling throughout the day. The European model shows a line of showers and storms approaching the area, but the rainfall tapers off before reaching the track. Skies look to be cloudy throughout the day with the European solution. Highs are trending to be in the upper 70s with the early morning low starting off in the mid-50s.
For Saturday and Sunday, the European model is keeping the track dry with skies clearing on the first half of Saturday and sunny skies on Sunday. It's a completely different story with the GFS as the latest run is keeping scattered showers and thunderstorms in the area throughout the weekend with rainfall amounts totalling 0.50 inches on Saturday and another 0.25 inches on Sunday. Temperatures are trending to start off around 60º on Saturday morning and climb into the upper 70s by the afternoon, and reaching the upper 70s again on Sunday after starting off in the mid-50s.
So, if it was within the seven-day window of raceday, the above graphic would be my forecast. But as we know, anything outside of seven days is considered at "Voodoo Land." The first official forecast will come on Monday morning (April 1st).
As of now, we have inconsistencies in both of the long-range models for the weekend ahead. The GFS is painting that Friday will feature cloudy skies with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms possible with around 0.50 inches of rain falling throughout the day. The European model shows a line of showers and storms approaching the area, but the rainfall tapers off before reaching the track. Skies look to be cloudy throughout the day with the European solution. Highs are trending to be in the upper 70s with the early morning low starting off in the mid-50s.
For Saturday and Sunday, the European model is keeping the track dry with skies clearing on the first half of Saturday and sunny skies on Sunday. It's a completely different story with the GFS as the latest run is keeping scattered showers and thunderstorms in the area throughout the weekend with rainfall amounts totalling 0.50 inches on Saturday and another 0.25 inches on Sunday. Temperatures are trending to start off around 60º on Saturday morning and climb into the upper 70s by the afternoon, and reaching the upper 70s again on Sunday after starting off in the mid-50s.
So, if it was within the seven-day window of raceday, the above graphic would be my forecast. But as we know, anything outside of seven days is considered at "Voodoo Land." The first official forecast will come on Monday morning (April 1st).
