Not too much to complain about out at the Circuit Of The Americas for the next to the last event for the 2018 Trans Am Championship presented by Pirelli, unless we may have to break out the jackets for the morning sessions. Friday and Saturday will feature maximum sunshine with mild temperatures by the early afternoon hours, but early morning lows will start off in the 40s on both days. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to put a small chance of a few passing showers on Sunday as a disturbance will be moving through central and eastern Texas throughout the day, around 30% at this time. I'll be back with a forecast update on Wednesday.

By: Stephen McCoy

The models continue a downward trend in the temperatures for the rest of the weekend at the California 8 Hours. In the previous forecast, the surface winds were expected to decrease close to the land with the stronger winds moving further off shore. However in the most recent model runs, winds look to persist off the coast with maximum wind speeds reaching 20-30 mph. As these winds are from the north to northwest, cool air from the Pacific Northwest will continue to move into the region.

The centers of the mid level and upper level ridges previously mentioned are expected to cross into southern Arizona during the late morning on Saturday. Southwesterly winds in the upper levels will bring moisture to the region, however the models (especially the short range models) indicate most of the moisture will be located further to the north, around the Bay area. The result will be mostly sunny skies with some light cloud cover possible through the day.

As the upper level ridge continues eastward on Sunday, the band of moisture (extending to the southwest) will also move eastward, passing over the track throughout the morning. As a result, some heavier cloud cover is expected to start the race, but conditions are likely to clear in the late morning to mid-afternoon. Stronger surface winds off the coast will cause winds to pick up slightly during the day with temperatures remaining in the mid to upper 60's.

By: Stephen McCoy

An upper level ridge, accompanied by a mid-level ridge, will move through the region into early next week. Weak southwesterly flow from the mid level ridge along with northerly flow in the low levels will keep conditions mostly dry through Friday at these levels. In the upper levels, the ridge will cause winds from the southwest, extending from the warmer, more moist portion of the North Pacific Ocean. In turn, some light clouds or partly cloudy conditions are expected as the moisture approaches the region in the upper levels. There has been a slight shift in the high temperature as the model consensus has trended cooler with the addition of the short-range models. Surface winds are likely to blame for the cooler temperatures as the winds just off the coast have an upward trend in wind speed, bringing cool air from the northwest closer to the shore.

Saturday, surface winds are expected to decrease off the coast, which will allow for warmer temperatures. The ridges in the upper levels and mid-levels will continue to track through the region, with the centers passing through overnight on Friday. Moisture is expected to persist in the upper levels, with light clouds to partly cloudy conditions likely again on Saturday. As mentioned in the initial forecast, surface winds will likely come in from the northwest during the day, then shift to the south and southeast during the evening and night as downslope flow occurs from the Santa Lucia Range.

On Sunday, the backside of the ridges will be located over the region, with winds primarily from the south to southwest. Moisture is expected to move into the mid and upper levels, resulting in mostly cloudy to overcast conditions throughout the day. The cloud cover along with northwesterly winds at the surface will bring slightly cooler temperatures to the region than seen on Saturday.

By: Stephen McCoy

Dry air will set up a nice weekend for the California 8 Hours this weekend, with temperatures hovering around 80 and clear conditions expected on Friday and Saturday. Slightly cooler temperatures and mostly cloudy to overcast skies will move in on Sunday.

On Friday, an upper level ridge will move into the region from the west along with a ridge in the mid-levels of the atmosphere. The lack of flow from these ridges accompanied by dry air will result in clear to mostly sunny conditions for the day. The clear conditions will allow plenty of daytime heating to occur at the surface, with the high temperature for Friday approaching 80 degrees. Winds from the northwest during the day are expected to keep dew point temperatures in the upper 40's; winds will likely shift to the south to southeast and weaken slightly during the evening and night as downslope flow occurs off the Santa Lucia Range. Similar conditions are expected for Saturday, with clear conditions more likely as the center of the ridges pass over central California.

On Sunday, the ridges are expected to continue tracking eastward, with the backsides moving over the region, and causing upper level and mid level winds to shift towards the southwest. Moisture will move into the mid and upper levels, resulting in mostly cloudy to overcast conditions for the day. Some morning fog is possible in the morning should the low temperature get cool enough to condense near the surface. Cooler temperatures are expected as winds will slightly increase as a stronger pressure gradient sets up just off the coast to the west.

By Doug Schneider

There hasn't been much change in the expected weather this weekend for F1's visit to COTA. Rain has been a factor at the track for the past few days, although it does not seem heavy enough to really have a big impact on the practice sessions so far. I expect that will continue into Saturday. Rain is likely in the morning, and the track will likely be wet for the F3 Americas Series race. The chance of rain will decrease in the afternoon. Free practice 3 starts at 1 pm CDT, and it will be close as to whether rain will still be around at that time. There's a chance that rain could impact that practice session. However, I do feel fairly confident that rain will be gone in time for qualifying at 4 pm CDT. Rain amounts are expected to be light on Saturday morning, most likely between a tenth of an inch to two tenths (2 to 5 mm). 

The weather on Sunday looks nice, with a front pushing south of the area and dry air moving in from the north. It will be on the breezy side, with a north wind a 10 to 15 mph. Temperatures and humidity levels will feel very pleasant, with temperatures during the race near 70 degrees (lower 20s C).  

By Doug Schneider

Formula One is not typically a series that we make forecasts for, but we do sometimes get requests for the US GP weekend, a race that some of our followers will be attending. 

A frontal boundary is going to be stalled over eastern Texas for much of this week, bringing quite a bit of rain to the region through Saturday. The front will be positioned near the coast, while winds across the Gulf of Mexico will be blowing from east to west, up and over the front. This moist air rising over the front will keep cloudy skies over COTA along with a good chance of rain each day this week. With the persistent rains, flooding could be a concern across eastern Texas all week. Temperatures will be cool with a northerly wind and overcast clouds, and highs will only reach the mid to upper 60s Friday and Saturday. The impact on the racing action on Friday is Low, as it appears that rain on Friday will mainly be light, with amounts in the range of a tenth to a quarter inch. The rain on Saturday has the potential to be heavier, between a quarter and a half inch, so I have the impact as Moderate. This means that delays to the scheduled on-track activity are possible, and rain tires will be needed, but it should not be enough to cause cancellations.

The good news in this forecast is that another front will push from north to south across Texas on Saturday night, with a strong high pressure ridge building in behind it on Sunday. This will bring drier air to the region for Sunday, and race day should be very nice. With mostly sunny skies and a north wind at 10 to 15 mph, temperatures will reach the lower 70s during the race.

You could really say we have a "Carbon Copy Forecast" throughout the event week out at Sonoma Raceway for the running of the 2018 SCCA Runoffs. The reason for not much change in the forecast is that a ridge of higher pressure is located to the north of the state in the Pacific Northwest, while a trough of lower pressure is located over the far southern parts of California and into the desert southwest. In weather terms, this is called a "Rex Block" pattern.

With very little movement in the pattern expected throughout the week and weekend, conditions will stay pretty consistent with the only difference being that winds will weaken some after Wednesday. With the weakening of those offshore winds, we may have to include a chance of fog in the forecast during the morning hours later in the week, but it is just too early to know that for certain at this point.

Highs each day will be in the mid to the upper 70s with early morning lows in the 40s. You'll definitely need jackets for the mornings and trade those for shades and sunscreen during the late morning through the afternoon hours. A great week ahead at Sonoma.

By: Stephen McCoy

Overcast conditions are likely to dominate the forecast for Saturday at the Six Hours of Fuji as moisture from the southwest out of the East China Sea. Temperatures will be cooler than initially forecast around 50F(10C) as surface winds moving over the Sea of Japan enter the region from the northeast. A surface low pressure system mentioned in previous forecasts is still expected to form to the south of Japan during the day on Saturday. Rain likely overnight Saturday as the system approaches the southern coast; moisture from the Pacific will wrap around the east side of the system, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall at times. Due to the timing of the approach of the low pressure, there's a medium chance for track activities to be impacted, especially activities towards the end of the day.

For Sunday, precipitation from the low pressure system is likely to continue through the morning with lower chances for scattered showers throughout the day. With chances extending through the day, there is still a low impact for the early part of the race. With more zonal flow in the upper levels, drier air will move in, with a slight decrease in cloud cover, though conditions are likely to remain mostly cloudy. Daytime heating mixed with the source of the surface winds coming from the low pressure system will allow temperatures to warm closer to 60F(15C).