By Doug Schneider
 Click to enlarge |  Forecast in Celsius and km/h |
'The big story for the weather during Petit Le Mans will be the effects of what is currently Tropical Storm Michael. Michael is currently located just off the Yucatan Penninsula, and is forecast to track north over the next few days. It is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along the Florida Panhandle. From there, it is forecast to curve northeast across Georgia and the Carolinas.
So what will be impacts be for Road Atlanta? First, don't focus on the exact track of Michael. The track isn't going make a huge difference in the impacts, because tropical moisture will be spreading across Georgia ahead of it, producing a lot of rain. The intensity rating of Michael won't matter much either, as heavy rain will be the main impact at the track, with wind being a lesser impact. The amount of rain that will fall remains uncertain, but here's what the forecast for the NWS' Weather Prediction Center shows:
So what will be impacts be for Road Atlanta? First, don't focus on the exact track of Michael. The track isn't going make a huge difference in the impacts, because tropical moisture will be spreading across Georgia ahead of it, producing a lot of rain. The intensity rating of Michael won't matter much either, as heavy rain will be the main impact at the track, with wind being a lesser impact. The amount of rain that will fall remains uncertain, but here's what the forecast for the NWS' Weather Prediction Center shows:
That graphic shows 2 to 4 inches of rain at Road Atlanta in northeast Georgia from Wednesday morning through Thursday night. That is certainly possible, but a big factor in the amount of rain at the track will be the speed of Michael. The good news is that the system is expected to keep moving across Georgia and not stall out, as it will get picked up by an upper level trough and cold front approaching from the west. A faster movement will result in less rain.
The rain from Michael will be around the track from Wednesday through Thursday, but right now it appears that the heaviest rainfall will be Wednesday night, with decreasing rain amounts through Thursday as the system pulls away and a cold front moves through.
Behind that cold front, high pressure will be building into the Southeast, and the weather looks great for Friday and Saturday. With the departing low of the remnants of Michael and the building high pressure, Friday will be a little breezy. Temperatures and humidity levels will be quite comfortable, with highs in the lower to mid 70s both days, and lows in the 50s.
The rain from Michael will be around the track from Wednesday through Thursday, but right now it appears that the heaviest rainfall will be Wednesday night, with decreasing rain amounts through Thursday as the system pulls away and a cold front moves through.
Behind that cold front, high pressure will be building into the Southeast, and the weather looks great for Friday and Saturday. With the departing low of the remnants of Michael and the building high pressure, Friday will be a little breezy. Temperatures and humidity levels will be quite comfortable, with highs in the lower to mid 70s both days, and lows in the 50s.
