By Doug Schneider

The main change to the forecast for the PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway is the addition of a small chance of showers or thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon. The main question with these showers will be if they will develop before or after the end of the race. The majority of the models indicate showers in the area right around the end of the race, which will be around 1:30 pm CDT. Past this time, the chance of rain increases. But there are some models that bring the showers into the area a little earlier. I think the chance of rain impacting the race is about 20%, while the chance of seeing rain after the race ends is about 50%. This is why I have impact as low - I think the most likely scenario is for the rain to arrive after the race ends. Let's hope that's the case. 

By Doug Schneider

Perfect weather conditions are expected this weekend as the INDYCAR Series moves to Texas Motor Speedway. Showers will be in the area on Friday, but they will be long gone by the time on-track activity begins on Saturday morning. High pressure will be building over the area on Saturday, providing mostly sunny skies, pleasant temperatures, and low humidity. The high pressure center will track east, and this will shift winds around to the south on Sunday. Winds will also be a little stronger on Sunday, mainly between 10 and 15 mph with some higher gusts now and then. Temperatures will be warmer with the south wind, into the lower 80s during the race. 

By Doug Schneider

Click the forecast images to enlarge

Good news with today's forecast update - the cold front that will be approaching Sebring is trending slower, which means a later arrival of showers. A later arrival time closer to sunset means there will be less instability for storms to tap into, so strong storms are unlikely. The coverage of showers is also looking less than it was before, so the chance of shower during the race is lowering.

There are still some timing differences among the models, but I expect that the window for showers and thunderstorms to arrive will be between 7 pm and 10 pm - the last few hours of the race. There is still a potential for a lightning delay, depending on whether a storm tracks close enough to the track, but the risk appears lower than with previous forecasts. The threat of strong wind gusts and heavy rain has also decreased, but again, the threat will depend on whether a storm moves directly over the track. With coverage expected to be scattered, they could miss the track completely. 

I'll try my best to post radar updates during the race on our Twitter account - @RacecastWx. 

By Doug Schneider

Click on the forecast images to enlarge

Not much has changed with the expected weather pattern at Sebring this weekend. Thursday and Friday continue to look great, with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures each afternoon. 

Saturday continues to be a concern for impactful weather at the track. A cold front approaching from the north will interact with a warm and unstable air mass across the Florida Peninsula, leading to showers and thunderstorms in the area during the afternoon. 

Timing continues to be very uncertain, as the arrival time of rain is different in the models by several hours. The earliest arrival time looks to be between noon and 2 pm. However, I think the most likely time for showers to begin at the track will be between 2 pm and 5 pm. There could be multiple rounds of showers, so I expect that rain and possibly some thunderstorms could remain around the area into the evening hours. 

The main impact with these storms will be lightning. It will be important for fans to have a place to seek shelter when thunder is heard. I expect that lightning will result in a stoppage of the race at some point for the safety of the corner marshals and the cameramen on towers. Another possible impact will be winds, which could become gusty when the storms move in, so campers will need to secure loose objects, especially tents and canopies. Finally, a brief heavy downpour will be possible. I expect the total rainfall amount through the end of the race to be between a quarter and a half inch, but it could come down quite heavily at times.

By Doug Schneider

Click on the forecast images to enlarge

All eyes will be on the Saturday's weather for this year's edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring. The forecast graphics tell the story about Wednesday through Friday - beautiful weather is expected those days, with no impacts, so I'll focus on Saturday.

A cold front is expected to approach the area on Saturday, and cross Sebring late Saturday night. Rain is likely ahead of the front, in the form of numerous showers and thunderstorms. 

The primary hazard with these storms will be lightning. I expect that there will be delays during the race due to lightning in the area. Other potential impacts from storms will be heavy downpours and gusty winds. Fans at the track should be prepared for rainy and windy conditions, and have a plan to seek shelter when lightning is in the area.

The uncertainty with these impacts is when they will happen. There will be a warm and unstable air mass ahead of the approaching cold front across southern and central Florida, so thunderstorms could pop up early in the afternoon. However, it looks like the models are showing the bulk of rain occurring in the late afternoon and evening hours, during the second half of the race. The thunderstorm threat will linger into Saturday night for campers at the track, as the front isn't expected to move through the area until late in the night or early Sunday morning. Since we are still several days away, the exact timing remains unclear, but that should come into better focus later in the week. Check back here for updates. 

By: Stephen McCoy

With the previous forecast for St. Pete, the cold front affecting the region was expected to fully move through during the weekend, but timing was not yet clear. Now, the front is expected move through during the afternoon on Saturday. Saturday morning, ahead of the front, there is a slight chance for light, isolated showers as winds from the southwest bring in moisture to the area. Partly to mostly cloudy conditions are also expected Saturday morning, but will gradually clear for the afternoon before increasing overnight into Sunday. Winds won't be as strong as Friday, but will still be around 10-15 mph with gusts at 25-30.

As opposed to the previous forecast, the cold front is now expected to stall just to the south of the Tampa region, becoming stationary until Monday. Winds will shift to the north/northeast, much like what was expected, however cloudy conditions will persist for Sunday morning with more partly cloudy conditions possible for the afternoon. The stationary front will also maintain chances for scattered showers mainly overnight, but could extend into the day. Rainfall will be fairly light with totals only expected less than 1/10". 

By: Stephen McCoy

A low pressure system is expected to form over the southern plains on Thursday, ahead of a strong upper level shortwave trough. Through the remainder of the week, the system will track northeast through the eastern portion of the country, with a strong cold front potentially bringing severe weather to much of the southeast.

For the Tampa area, conditions for the start of the race weekend will be dry, but with relatively strong sustained winds. On Friday, surface winds are expected directly from the South ahead of the aforementioned front, largely coming off the Gulf of Mexico. With little resistance until reaching land, wind speeds over the area may reach upwards of 20-30 mph with potential gusts peaking as high as 40-45 mph during the afternoon. Low level winds coming in from the southwest, also off the Gulf, will result in partly to mostly cloudy conditions through the day. Drier, warmer air just above the 850 millibar level will keep showers from developing over the region, again resulting in dry conditions through the day.

As the low pressure system continues moving up the east coast through the weekend, its cold front is expected to weaken and stretch further to the southwest from the center. This will cause the front to move over the Tampa area either late Saturday or Sunday, which the forecast models are currently somewhat split on. (The included forecast graphic assumes that the front will move through the region overnight Saturday or early Sunday morning.) In either case, showers are possible ahead of the front which could have a slight impact for on-track sessions. Surface winds will shift to the southwest ahead of the front, maintaining similar, but slightly lower, wind speeds from Friday. Behind the front, conditions will clear, with northerly winds bringing slightly cooler and drier air to the region.

By Doug Schneider

The weather continues to look great for this year's edition of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. Only a few small changes were made from Monday's initial forecast.

Today at Daytona will be warm and breezy. High temperatures will reach the mid 80s, and winds will be 10 to 20 mph, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph at times. A cold front will approach the area from the northwest, and bring some showers to the area tonight.

Colder temperatures will follow the cold front for Thursday, with high temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees colder than Wednesday. Cool and sunny conditions will continue through Saturday as winds remain from the north. Sunday will see warming temperatures into the 70s, with increasing clouds. Some rain showers could arrive late Sunday, but it looks like they will hold off until after the race is over.