By Doug Schneider

Rain appears likely to affect testing at Le Mans tomorrow as a cold front will be moving across the area. I expect that the morning will be dry but cloudy and cool, with temperatures only in the 50s to lower 60s. The timing of the start of the rain appears to be between noon and 2 pm, give or take an hour either way. Rain will probably continue for the rest of the testing. The rain will be light, with about 0.05 to 0.2 inches of rain expected (about 0.13 to 05 cm). With the rain and clouds, high temperatures will probably only reach the mid 60s. Winds will generally be from the southwest, but shift a little more to the west in the evening.

You can keep an eye on the radar for Le Mans at this link.

By Scott Martin

I know its an insane hour of 1:05 AM CDT in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, but I wanted to get the latest updates for the forecast for all of the action later today at Belle Isle. 

SATURDAY
Latest model runs of the NAM 4km (so far it has been the most trustworthy) is trending that conditions later today may not be all that bad until after the 2PM hour. Skies will start off partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower before 8AM. Conditions should stay dry after that till around 2-3PM. The leading edge of the storms should be entering into the area around that time. As of now, no severe weather is expected. Do expect heavy rainfall at times with dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning. Once it starts, it looks like the main rain event will be with us throughout the remainder of the day. Highs will reach the upper 70s to the lower 80s. Winds will be from the southwest at 5-15 MPH. Chance of rain is 70%.

SUNDAY
Unfortunately with the latest model runs, showers and thunderstorms look like they will be sticking around throughout the morning and finally may move out by 2-3PM. You will notice that the highs will be considerably lower and winds will be gusty at times. Skies should start to clear out and will be partly cloudy, with highs struggling to reach the lower 60s. Winds will be out of the northeast at 15-20 MPH, with gusts up to 30 MPH. Chance of rain is more likely during the morning at 60%, but dropping off to 30% after 10AM.

I really wish that this forecast is wrong and rain only occurs after the action is finished on Saturday and before it starts on Sunday. Just remember that we offer FREE live radar for Belle Isle on our blog site (http://racecastwx.weebly.com). Anyone with access to the internet is more than welcome to use it (fans, series officials, teams, PR, etc.). I'll also have updates on my Twitter feed (@RaceWx4You). Time for me to catch a few winks. Have a great night.

By Scott Martin

FRIDAY
The day generally doesn’t look too bad. Mostly sunny skies throughout the morning and early afternoon hours, with just a very slight chance of rain after 2PM. The latest model run shows a shower or thunderstorm developing and moving across the region around that time. After that, more clouds build but I think it will stay dry until the evening and overnight hours. Highs should top out in the middle 80s. Winds will be out of the south at 5-15 MPH. Chance of rain is only 20%.

SATURDAY
According to the latest NAM 4km model run, there is a possibility of a few showers to pop up during the morning hours, but it looks like the first wave of thunderstorms doesn’t move in until the 1-3PM time frame. Rain could be heavy at times, and probably with some cloud-to-ground lightning. Another set of thunderstorms will move through during the 6-8PM time frame. Once again, rain could be heavy at times with possible cloud-to-ground lightning. Then the last set of thunderstorms will move through a few hours later with heavy rain and cloud-to-ground lightning. There could be dry periods in between each set of thunderstorms. Highs will reach the upper 70s. Winds will start off out of the southwest, but becoming west at 5-15 MPH by the afternoon and evening hours. Chance of rain is 80%.

SUNDAY
Rain moves out of the area for Sunday, and the sky will become partly cloudy. With winds out of the northeast at 10-15 MPH, the day will be rather cool with daytime highs only reaching the lower 60s. Chance of rain is 0%.

Just remember that we will have live radar up and running on our blog site at racecastwx.weebly.com, and I'll have weather updates on my Twitter feed @RaceWx4You. Have a great day.

By Doug Schneider

The latest model runs are trending toward a faster approach of a cold front toward northern France. As a result, the rain with the front may arrive as early as Sunday afternoon at Le Mans. If rain does occur late Sunday, it will be light, with the bulk of the rain still expected to arrive on Monday. It will feel cool, with plenty of cloud cover holding temperatures to 70 degrees F at most, and a southwest wind around 10 mph. 

By Scott Martin

Not much change in the forecast for the PWC, TUSC and Indycar action this week on the streets of Belle Isle in Detroit. Just adding a slight chance for a thunderstorm and increasing winds to Friday. Read below for more.

Thursday is still looking the same. Skies will be partly cloudy during the morning hours, but becoming mostly clear throughout the afternoon. Humidity levels will be low so the heat index will be the same as the temperature. Highs will reach the lower 80s. Winds out of the southeast at 5-10 MPH.

On Friday, an increasing southwesterly flow across the area from the surface high shifting east will bring a warmer and more humid airmass into the area. Skies will be mostly sunny during the morning hours but more clouds will start to move in during the afternoon. I'm going to include a very slight chance of thunderstorms after 3PM to be on the safe side, but I believe it will stay dry until the evening hours. Winds will also start to build during the early afternoon hours, with gusts up to 20-25 MPH. Highs will reach the middle 80s. Chance of rain is 20%.

Storms will start to move into the area on Friday night with an approaching cold front, setting up for what looks like a wet beginning to Saturday. Showers and thunderstorms are likely during the morning through the early evening. It is still too far out to see about the timing and amounts on the forecast models that I use, but will get that nailed down tomorrow. Highs are expected to reach the middle 70s. Chance of rain is 70%. Winds will be gusty at times, as high as 25 MPH at times. As of now, no severe weather expected.

The rain moves out of the area Saturday night, but the clouds stick around for Sunday. Temperatures will be cooler, as highs are only expected to reach the lower to middle 60s. Expect breezy conditions, with gusts up to 25 MPH at times. Might need a light jacket and a hat.

Just remember that we will have live radar up and running on our blog site, and I'll have weather updates on my Twitter feed @RaceWx4You. Have a great day.

By Scott Martin

By Doug Schneider

Le Mans Test Day next Sunday looks like it will have good weather. There will be a cold front approaching northern France from the northwest, but it appears that precipitation with the front will hold off until Sunday night and Monday. The trend of the latest model runs is toward a slower approach of the front, so this lends confidence toward the rain holding off until after the test. It does appear that clouds will be increasing through the day, with partly cloudy skies in the morning becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Winds will be shifting from south in the morning to southwest in the afternoon. Temperatures will be comfortable, with highs in the lower 70s.

By Scott Martin