By Doug Schneider - @Race4caster
On and off rain showers will continue across the Finger Lakes region through the morning hours. Here's a look at the big picture radar (WGI is the red dot):
On and off rain showers will continue across the Finger Lakes region through the morning hours. Here's a look at the big picture radar (WGI is the red dot):
There is still quite a bit of rain across western Pennsylvania moving northeast that will affect Watkins Glen today. I expect that the main area of rain and thunderstorms will occur at the track between 8 am and noon. Around a quarter inch of rain is likely, and possibly up to a half inch. This could potentially impact Prototype Challenge Race 2, Porsche GT3 Cup Race 2, and WeatherTech qualifying.
There is also a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms in the area. Here's the graphic from the Storm Prediction Center:
There is also a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms in the area. Here's the graphic from the Storm Prediction Center:
Watkins Glen is on the western edge of the Slight Risk area. While there is a potential for storms to produce strong wind gusts, I think the chance of this happening at the track today is very low. The greater threat of severe weather will be east of Watkins Glen, where storms will have more time to develop in an unstable air mass this afternoon. Lightning will be a threat at the track today, so have a plan to seek shelter when thunder is heard. I do expect that most of the showers will exit in time for the CTSC race, which is scheduled to start at 2:25 pm.
I don't have a new forecast graphic today, because my thinking for Sunday is pretty much unchanged from yesterday. It will be a partly cloudy day, with temperatures reaching to around 80 degrees in the afternoon. There is a slight chance of showers developing in the afternoon as an upper level trough will linger over the region. The timing for potential showers on Sunday appears to be after 2 pm. I'd put the chance of rain during the race at just 20%. A dry race continues to be the most likely scenario right now.
I don't have a new forecast graphic today, because my thinking for Sunday is pretty much unchanged from yesterday. It will be a partly cloudy day, with temperatures reaching to around 80 degrees in the afternoon. There is a slight chance of showers developing in the afternoon as an upper level trough will linger over the region. The timing for potential showers on Sunday appears to be after 2 pm. I'd put the chance of rain during the race at just 20%. A dry race continues to be the most likely scenario right now.
