By Doug Schneider
So far the weather is playing out as expected at Watkins Glen. Today has been a sunny day with warm temperatures. There is some rain currently moving across southern Ontario, but it is not expected to arrive at the track until after sunset. This area of rain is associated with an upper level trough that will cross Watkins Glen tonight, and it will probably only produce a tenth of an inch of rain or less. I expect that it will be gone before on-track activities start on Saturday morning.
However, there will be a cold front approaching the area later on Saturday, which could bring another chance of rain in the afternoon. There is still some uncertainty about this round, as the models disagree on the location of where storms will develop in the afternoon and the speed of the front. One models that is faster with the front (NAM) keeps showers south of the area, mostly in Pennsylvania, while another is slower (GFS) and develops showers right over the Finger Lakes area. I am going to keep my forecast of scattered showers going unchanged. It's probably a 50/50 shot at seeing rain at the track on Saturday. If a shower does pass over the track, between a tenth and a quarter inch of rain can be expected, and there may be lightning in the area which could cause a brief delay.
By sunset Saturday, the front should be through the area, and winds will shift to the northwest, Cooler temperatures will follow on Sunday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid 70s. It should be a nice day to enjoy the Six Hours. There will be a good breeze from the northwest at 10 to 15 mph most of the time, with gusts to around 20 mph at times.
However, there will be a cold front approaching the area later on Saturday, which could bring another chance of rain in the afternoon. There is still some uncertainty about this round, as the models disagree on the location of where storms will develop in the afternoon and the speed of the front. One models that is faster with the front (NAM) keeps showers south of the area, mostly in Pennsylvania, while another is slower (GFS) and develops showers right over the Finger Lakes area. I am going to keep my forecast of scattered showers going unchanged. It's probably a 50/50 shot at seeing rain at the track on Saturday. If a shower does pass over the track, between a tenth and a quarter inch of rain can be expected, and there may be lightning in the area which could cause a brief delay.
By sunset Saturday, the front should be through the area, and winds will shift to the northwest, Cooler temperatures will follow on Sunday, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid 70s. It should be a nice day to enjoy the Six Hours. There will be a good breeze from the northwest at 10 to 15 mph most of the time, with gusts to around 20 mph at times.
