By Doug Schneider

A cold front is expected to move through the Southeast U.S. on Friday, which will bring a good chance of showers and thunderstorms to Barber Motorsports Park. Details are uncertain this far out regarding timing, intensity, and coverage of storms, but if you're going to be at the track on Friday, be prepared with rain gear and a plan to find  shelter when thunderstorms approach. Once the cold front pushes through, drier and cooler air will follow, and the rest of the event looks like it will have beautiful weather, with comfortable temperatures and humidity under sunny skies.

By Doug Schneider

A beautiful weekend is on tap for IMSA and INDYCAR at Long Beach. The main impact will be morning fog, as a southerly wind from the ocean will bring the marine layer inland each morning. With daytime heating, the fog will dissipate, likely by 10 AM, but it could impact some of the morning sessions. Temperatures will be pleasant, if a bit cool, reaching the upper 60s to lower 70s each afternoon.

By Doug Schneider

A large high pressure ridge over the west coast will provide sunny skies and warm temperatures for the INDYCAR weekend at the Thermal Club. Temperatures will be rising each day as the ridge shifts a little farther east, reaching into the upper 80s by race day. Winds will be light each day, and generally coming from the north.

By Doug Schneider

You couldn't ask for better weather than what you'll get this weekend in St. Petersburg. Mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures can be expected throughout the INDYCAR season opener weekend. High pressure will be located over the northern Gulf Coast region, providing a dry northerly flow across Florida. A weak disturbance could bring a little more cloud cover on Friday and Saturday, but this won't impact anything at the track.

By Doug Schneider

Thanks for following our race forecasts through 2024! We enjoyed another year of combining our love of racing and weather. Through the year, I collect photos from some extremely talented photographers that combine our loves into one fabulous photo, and compile them into a end-of-year gallery for your enjoyment. Be sure to visit our X page and vote in the poll for your favorite weather and racing photo of the year. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and we'll see you again in January with our forecast for the Roar Before the 24!

By Doug Schneider

Unfortunately, the weather will be wet the weekend for the INDYCAR finale at Nashville Superspeedway. Rain is going to cause some interruptions to the on-track sessions, especially on Saturday. 

The remnants of what was Hurricane Francine will be located over Arkansas on Friday, and slowly meander around Mississippi and West Tennessee through the weekend. This will place Nashville Superspeedway in a very moist pattern, with a southerly flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico feeding into Middle Tennessee all weekend. Rain bands on the outer extent of the low pressure system will bring periods of rain at the track on Saturday, and there will likely be significant delays or cancellations to the on track action for INDY NXT and INDYCAR practice and qualifying. Rain amounts on Saturday are expected to be between a half inch and one inch. A thunderstorm will be possible, but the chance of one is low as coverage of storms in Middle Tennessee is expected to be isolated.

On Sunday, the low pressure system will weaken and drift slightly to the west, and high pressure over New England will build southward. The outer rain bands may shift a little to the west, which may result in more dry time at the track. There is uncertainty with where these rain bands will be located on Sunday. The best case scenario is that the high pressure system is strong enough to push those bands west of the track, and the afternoon hours are mostly dry. The worst case scenario is that the high doesn't build in enough, and rain bands set up over the track again, like Saturday. Expected rain amounts on Sunday are between a quarter and a half inch, but that will depend on where those rain bands set up. 

I really wish I had better news about the weather, as I'll be attending the race. I will try to post some radar and weather updates from the track at our X account, @RacecastWx.

By Doug Schneider

Unfortunately, the weather pattern looks like there will be wet conditions at times for the INDYCAR season finale at Nashville Superspeedway. A tropical low pressure system is expected to move northward from the Texas coastline to the Mid Mississippi Valley this week, and linger over West and Middle Tennessee through the weekend. The location of this low will mean plentiful moisture will be transported north from the Gulf into Tennessee. 

With this pattern, showers are likely both Saturday and Sunday, with a low chance of a thunderstorm. Timing and rain amounts are unclear this far out, but the afternoon hours appear to have the best rain chances as surface heating creates instability for showers to develop. I expect that there will be some interruptions to several on track sessions both days. 

Check back later in the week for updates and further details on timing and rain amounts. 

By Doug Schneider

Rain is moving through the Milwaukee area this morning. Most of this rain should be out of the area between 8 and 10 am. The first on track activity is INDY NXT practice at 1:30 pm CDT, which should allow for plenty of time to dry the track. I don't expect that there will be any weather impacts today, as a cold front pushing through this afternoon will be followed by drier air and perhaps some sunshine at times. The rest of the weekend will have very nice weather. A second cold front will move through on Saturday night, which will bring cooler temperatures on Sunday, with highs in the mid 70s and a north wind at 10 to 15 mph.