The last two years, rain has threatened the Daytona 500. In 2012, “The Great American Race” was a washout and had to run on Monday night. It’s a new year but feels like the same weather forecast, a chance of rain across Florida thanks to a stalled front across the state.
NASCAR 2014 Daytona 500 weather forecast: Threat of rain this weekend
Since 2012, the Sunday of the Daytona 500 has featured the threat of rain, with 2012 being the first time the Daytona 500 was run on a day other than a Sunday. With rain threatening this year, how could that impact the Daytona 500 weekend?
The cold front is expected to arrive across Florida Friday afternoon and evening, bringing with it showers and even the possibility of some strong gusty thunderstorms. This will be an issue for the Camping World Truck series race later that evening.
The threat of rain doesn’t end Friday night, either. The cold front is expected to stall and become stationary over central Florida on Saturday and Sunday. This is almost the exact same thing that happened last year for the 2013 Daytona 500. It was a very similar scenario where a cold front moved through then stalled just south of Daytona International Speedway. The rain last year was about 15 to 25 miles away from the track but never threatened.
Like last year, the chance of rain will come down to where that boundary stalls and focuses the precipitation. The last couple of data runs on the various forecast models meteorologists use to predict the weather have not been favorable for this Sunday. They all continue with a chance of rain showers over Daytona International Speedway Saturday for the Nationwide race and Sunday for the Daytona 500.
Based on current data, I give the odds of racing on Sunday around 50 to 60 percent. I am not ready to call this a wash or even predict a Monday race. We are five days out from the Daytona 500 and a lot can change between now and then.
Please follow me on Twitter @NASCAR_WXMAN and like me on Facebook for the latest weather updates through the rest of the week and into the Daytona 500 weekend.
Conditions in Daytona Beach, FL: Click here for Current Weather Conditions – Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar
WEDNESDAY
2:30 p.m ET
Truck Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 79
4 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 78
6:30 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice before 150’s – Mostly clear – temp: 71
7:30 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice before 150’s – Mostly clear – temp: 69
THURSDAY:
12 p.m ET
Nationwide Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 79
1:30 p.m ET
Truck Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 82
3 p.m ET
Nationwide Final Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 83
4:40 p.m ET
Truck Series Final Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 81
7 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Duel 150’s – Mostly clear – temp: 74
8 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Duel 150’s – Mostly clear – temp: 72
9 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Duel 150’s – Mostly clear – temp: 71
10 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Duel 150’s – Mostly clear – temp: 69
FRIDAY:
11:30 a.m ET
Sprint Cup Series Practice – Partly sunny – temp: 79
1:10 p.m ET
Nationwide Series Qualifying – Mostly cloudy, chance of T-storm & showers – temp: 80
2:30 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Series Practice – Mostly cloudy, chance of T-storm & showers – temp: 82
4:10 p.m ET
Truck Series Qualifying – Mostly cloudy, chance of T-storm & showers – temp: 80
7:30 p.m ET
Truck Series Race – Mostly cloudy, chance of T-storm & showers – temp: 73
8:30 p.m ET
Truck Series Race – Mostly cloudy, chance of T-storm & showers – temp: 70
9:30 p.m ET
Truck Series Race – Mostly cloudy, chance of T-storm & showers – temp: 70
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