Today is going to be a scorcher out at Iowa Speedway as there will be maximum sunshine with very hot temperatures and high humidity levels. The afternoon high will reach the upper 90s, around 97 degrees. The heat index will top out around 114 degrees. An Excessive Heat Advisory is in effect throughout the entire day today through 7:00 pm Saturday evening. Winds will be breezy at times out of the southwest averaging 10-15 MPH with gusts up to 25 MPH possible. No rain for today, but we may have to deal with some on race night.

During the daytime hours on Saturday, skies will be sunny with temperatures topping out in the lower 90s, but all of the track activity for the NTT Indycar Series doesn't start until right after 5:00 pm. Some clouds will start to build as the temperature will be around 92 degrees. As the evening progresses, temperatures will actually start to cool off rather nicely, but will we have to pay a price as rain chances begin to quickly ramp up during the second half of the race. Latest high-resolution models are showing the potential of some thunderstorms moving through the area. At this point, I'm going with a 50% chance of storms before the end of the race, but new model data will be coming out shortly and I'll make updates if needed. The temperature at the end of the race will be around 80 degrees. Winds will start off out of the southwest at 6-12 MPH but will shift out of the north by the end of the event.

I'll have radar up in running later today. Have a great day. Be sure to stay hydrated and keep cool if out at the track.

By Doug Schneider

Hot temperatures continue to be the main weather factor at Lime Rock on Friday and especially Saturday. A slight chance of thunderstorms has been added to the forecast for Friday, but I don't expect this to have an impact.

A large high pressure ridge will be centered to the southwest of Connecticut, near the Ohio River and Kentucky. This ridge will remain nearly stationary through the end of the week, and provide a southwesterly flow of warm and humid air into Lime Rock. On Friday, there is a slight weakness moving across the top of this ridge that is expected to spark some showers and thunderstorms in the Mohawk Valley region of New York in the afternoon. These storms will track to the east-southeast, and may reach the Lime Rock area late in the day. The final practice session of the day is held from 4:55 to 5:55 pm, and it will be close as to whether storms reach the track by the time it ends. I think it is more likely that they arrive after 6 pm, so I have kept the Impact at a Green Flag. 

Temperatures and humidity will continue to climb on Saturday, and the combination of heat and humidity will make it feel like it is over 100 degrees. The atmosphere appears a little more stable on Saturday, so any chance of showers and thunderstorms is unlikely.

​If you're at the track either day, drinking plenty of water will be a must. Alcoholic beverages won't keep your body adequately hydrated. Take frequent breaks in the shade and use sunscreen. 

By Scott Martin

The main focus for this weekend weather at Iowa Speedway for the NTT Indycar Series will be the extreme heat that is expected. Winds will be breezy at times on Friday especially during the afternoon hours as we could see average winds at 10-15 MPH with gusts up to 20 MPH out of the southwest. Saturday's winds will be calmer during the evening hours, but there could be a few gusts up to 20 MPH out of the southwest around and earlier than 5:00 pm.

With afternoon highs topping out in the mid to upper 90s on both days and heat indices approaching 105 degrees, an Excessive Heat Watch is in effect all day on Friday and through 7:00 pm on Saturday evening. Find shady areas to cool off in and be sure to hydrate often. While a tasty brew or two would be nice, alcohol does not help at all in keeping the body hydrated. Water is the best option.

By Doug Schneider

The main weather concern at Lime Rock Park this weekend will be the hot temperatures. 

The remains of Tropical Storm Barry will get picked up by a mid-latitude trough, which will move across New England on Thursday. As teams set up at the track that day, there will likely be showers and thunderstorms in the area, especially in the first half of the day.

​By the time on-track action starts on Friday, the trough will be well to the east and high pressure will be building over the area. This large high pressure ridge will dominate the eastern U.S. over the weekend, and bring above normal temperatures to much of the country.  

At Lime Rock Park, high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday are expected to easily reach into the lower 90s. With dewpoint temperatures near 70, it will feel humid as well, with a heat index pushing 100 degrees. Anyone going to the race will need to be prepared to stay hydrated - drink plenty of water and find shade whenever possible to avoid heat exhaustion. 

By: Stephen McCoy

Conditions have dried out for Sunday and the remainder of the weekend will stay warm with high temperatures hovering around 80 F. As mentioned in the previous forecasts, for Saturday expect surface winds from the north to northwest as due to the anti-cyclonic rotation around a surface high pressure system over the Pacific Ocean. Low level winds from the west will result in mostly cloudy skies during the morning; winds will shift to the north to northwest during the afternoon. An upper level trough is still anticipated to be located over the Pacific, causing winds from the southwest over the region and ultimately mostly cloudy skies will be present through the afternoon. For Sunday, recent model runs have shown low level winds more from the northwest, which will cause drier air and clearer conditions through the day. However, with the region still on the downstream of the upper level trough's axis, partly to mostly cloudy conditions will likely persist.