By Doug Schneider

Rain will likely be a factor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially around the start of the race on Saturday. 

The weather pattern over western Europe continues to show a low pressure system off the west coast of France, and this will change little over the weekend. This morning, rain showers are occurring along the west coast of France, and through the day, these showers will slowly advance toward the west. Showers are likely in Le Mans by the afternoon. Tonight, the showers are expected to taper off, then return by Saturday morning. Saturday looks like it will be a rather wet day, with periods of rain possible at any time. It does not appear to be a heavy rain, so I expect that the racing will be able to be held as scheduled. But it will make for a challenge for the teams and drivers, especially at the start. Rain amounts on Saturday are expected to be between a quarter and a half inch, or between 6 and 12 mm.

The chance of rain will decrease Saturday night, and I expect that most of Sunday will be dry. However, there is a chance that some showers and thunderstorms will develop in the area during the afternoon. The chance of impacts on the race appear low at this time, but there is some disagreement among the models on where the showers will develop. Hopefully the race can end under good weather conditions, but we will have to keep an eye on the radar.

By Doug Schneider

The pattern across western Europe during the second half of the week will have high pressure over England and the North Sea, with a low pressure system in the eastern Atlantic, off the Iberian Peninsula. As Le Mans practice sessions begin, the weather will be sunny and warm on Wednesday and Thursday, thanks to the high pressure system being dominant. Through the weekend, this pattern will shift slowly east, so that the high loses its grip and the low pressure system spreads moisture into France. Showers are likely to arrive at Le Mans during the afternoon and evening hours on Friday. Showers will continue to be in the area through Saturday. The good news is that this does not look like a very heavy rain. I expect that it will be light enough to allow for the on-track sessions to be held, for the most part. Interruptions should be minimal, but wet tires will likely be needed. On Sunday, there is just a small chance of showers, and I expect that the second half of the race will mostly be dry. 

​Check back later in the week for updates.

It's been a pleasure to complete another year of bringing you weather forecasts for your favorite racing series. 2023 will be the ninth year that Scott and I have been running this site, and we are thankful to have Stephen and Harris join us to expand our efforts and keep it going strong. We truly appreciate all our followers who share in our loves of weather and racing. 

Without further ado, here are the best photos from 2022 that combine our two favorite things - weather and racing! ​Hope you enjoy these photos from some excellent photographers. Have a happy New Year, and we'll see you in 2023!

By Doug Schneider

Every year around Le Mans, I always hear the phrase, "It always rains at Le Mans". Well, this year will be the exception. There are some isolated showers around the track on Wednesday, but dry weather is expected for the rest of the event. Every day will be mostly sunny, with comfortable temperatures and light winds as a large high pressure system extends over northern France. It doesn't get any better than this for weather at Le Mans.

The changes to this forecast from my previous forecast were pretty minor, with only small downward changes to temperatures, and the slight chance of rain Sunday has been removed. 

By Doug Schneider

The weather looks great for this year's edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

A cold front will be moving through northern France on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, which will result in showers around Le Mans. Most of these showers will occur in the morning, with conditions improving through the day. If some showers do linger later in the day, I expect that they will be light and impacts will be minimal. 

Behind the front, high pressure will build over northern France and provide nice weather through Saturday at least. Temperatures will be very comfortable, with a warming trend through the week. 

The high pressure ridge weakens a little on Sunday, which may allow for a few showers to develop on Sunday, mainly in the afternoon. This is still a way out, so there is still some uncertainty about the rain chance, but it appears to be low at this time, with no significant impacts expected.

Check back for updates through the week. 

By Doug Schneider

Rain showers will start to spread into the Le Mans area beginning tonight. Periods of showers are likely to continue through Saturday as a low pressure system sits over the Bay of Biscay. The most likely period for showers on Saturday will be in the afternoon and evening, during the opening hours of the race. There could be around a quarter of an inch (around 6 mm) of rain that falls on Saturday. 

Saturday night should have a lower chance of showers in the area. Coverage will be more scattered, and showers will be lighter. The threat of thunderstorms will also diminish. Scattered showers will continue around northern France through Sunday, and there may be some breaks in the clouds that allow some sun to briefly shine through. 

I will be travelling on vacation with family tomorrow, so I won't be able to post radar updates as I usually do. I recommend this site to monitor radar - https://www.meteo60.fr/radars-precipitations-pluie-france.php

By Doug Schneider

Not much has changed in the forecast for Le Mans with the latest data. Some things have come into better focus, such as the timing of the best chance of rain and potential rainfall amounts. 

High pressure over the British Isles will keep conditions dry and mild at Le Mans on Thursday, with mostly sunny skies. Clouds will start to increase a little on Friday as the high pressure system moves east and a low pressure system off the northwest coast of Spain approaches. As this low moves into the Bay of Biscay, it will start to bring a chance of rain into northern France, beginning Friday night. There is good agreement between the models that the center of the low will be just off the west coast of France on Saturday, sitting nearly stationary through the day. Shower and thunderstorms will be numerous across eastern and northern France all day, but the most likely time for showers to occur at the track will be in the late afternoon and evening - near the start time of the race. The rain could be briefly heavy if a storm moves directly over the track, with a quarter to a half inch of rain possible (6-12 mm). There could be a possibility of a caution period or a stoppage if the heavy rain and lightning occurs. 

The threat of showers will drop Saturday night, but it won't completely go away. There may be some scattered showers lingering around overnight and into Sunday morning. The chance of rain on Sunday looks lower than Saturday as the low pressure system is expected to weaken and drift southeast. Any showers on Sunday should be lighter as well, so the impact on the racing is expected to be less. 

By Doug Schneider

Warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies are expected at Le Mans through most of this week, but as we approach the weekend, the chance of rain still start to increase, and there's a good chance of seeing rain at some point during the race.

A large high pressure system will be drifting east from England to Scandinavia from Wednesday through Friday, providing dry weather and warm temperatures across northern France. A low pressure system will be tracking east across the Atlantic, and be located somewhere near the Bay of Biscay by the end of the week. This low pressure system will spread increasing moisture into France over the weekend. The chance of rain is a bit uncertain this far out, and it will depend on the exact position of this low, which isn't yet clear. If it tracks farther south as some models suggest, there will be a lower chance of rain. A more northerly position of the low will increase the rain chances. In this forecast, I have taken a middle ground, with rain chances in the 40-50% range. This may go up or down with later forecast updates, so check back through the week.