Just the second race weekend of the 2015 NASCAR season and we have our first major threat of wet weather. All week, the weather forecasts for Atlanta Motor Speedway has been showing chilly temperatures and the possibility of showers and drizzle on Sunday. It looks like a real solid threat.
NASCAR at Atlanta 2015: Will it won’t it rain Sunday?
The weather forecast for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race has been less than stellar all week. Wet dreary conditions look likely but will it be enough to cause problems for NASCAR?
Forecast for today and Saturday are mostly dry but very chilly. Unlike Daytona where temperatures got warmer as we got closer to race day, temperatures will remain cold. Highs both today and Saturday will only reach the middle 40s. Mostly sunny skies expected for today and mostly cloudy skies are expected for Saturday.
Our main concern is Sunday for the Sprint Cup race. Cold will remain over northern and central Georgia, as some moisture moves in it will move right over the colder air. This is expected to create light rain but mostly drizzle over the area. Drizzle is very hard to forecast and sometimes even see on radar. This will make things difficult not only for NASCAR at the fans but for meteorologists as well.
CAN WE RACE SUNDAY?
I am giving the odds of racing at around 50 percent. There’s still a lot of uncertainty in some elements of the forecast. It looks likely we will get some light precipitation in the form of drizzle and a light shower or two but will there be enough of a break to dry and also race? We could get this started as some data is suggesting the wet weather doesn’t get started until late afternoon or evening. Will continue to monitor later this afternoon and Saturday.
WILL THERE BE DELAYS?
With showers and drizzle likely, yes I think a couple delays are possible.
WHAT DOES MONDAY LOOK LIKE?
A lot of people on Twitter have already been asking me about Monday. Right now I am hoping we can get through Sunday. I think we can race Sunday but to be honest I am a little nervous. I am not ready to call this a wash. Staying cautiously optimistic.
Follow me on Twitter - @NASCAR_WXMAN for radar updates and "Like" me on Facebook.
Conditions in Atlanta, GA: Click here for Current Weather Conditions – Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site|Mobile Radar
FRIDAY:
10:00 a.m EDT
Xfinity Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 37
11:30 a.m EDT
Xfinity Series Final Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 41
1:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 45
2:30 p.m EDT
Truck Series Practice – Mostly sunny – temp: 46
5:45 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Qualifying – Partly sunny – temp: 43
SATURDAY:
9:10 a.m EDT
Xfinity Series Qualifying – Mostly cloudy – temp: 36
10:40 a.m EDT
Truck Series Qualifying – Mostly cloudy – temp: 41
12:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – Mostly cloudy – temp: 94
2:00 p.m EDT
Xfinity Series Race – Mostly cloudy – temp: 45
5:30 p.m EDT
Truck Series Race – Mostly cloudy – temp: 46
SUNDAY:
12:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Pre-Race – Cloudy, chc. of drizzle or light rain – temp: 41
1:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Cloudy, chc. of drizzle or light rain – temp: 44
2:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Cloudy, chc. of drizzle or light rain – temp: 44
3:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Cloudy, chc. of drizzle or light rain – temp: 44
4:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Cloudy, chc. of drizzle or light rain – temp: 45
5:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Drizzle or light rain – temp: 45
6:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Drizzle or light rain – temp: 42
7:00 p.m EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Drizzle or light rain – temp: 42
See More:
