The weather forecast for Charlotte Motor Speedway is looking rough. It’s mostly bad news for Sunday and challenging to find any opportunities for NASCAR to go racing.
Possible washout for NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway? Maybe not
While a tropical storm will mostly be impacting the Gulf Coast of the United States this weekend, its influence will will be felt in the Carolinas
As of Friday morning, tropical storm Nate had yet to cross the Yucatan Peninsula and enter the Gulf. While this storm will be a big player in the upcoming forecast, its influence is more indirect than direct. Once in the Gulf of Mexico it will move fast to the north and west of the Carolinas by late Sunday into Monday morning.
The flow of Nate is counter-clockwise and this rotation brings in deep moisture out of the Gulf of Mexico and over the Atlantic into the Carolinas for both Saturday and Sunday. Yes, Saturday too is starting to look wetter with scattered areas of showers and possible storms around Charlotte Motor Speedway.
SATURDAY:
The day will start off dry but as moisture streams into the Carolinas thanks to tropical storm Nate, high pressure over the Atlantic and an approaching cold front increase the threat of scattered showers and storms in the afternoon. Odds of racing the Xfinity Series Drive for The Cure 300: Around 50 to 60 percent, with possible delays from scattered showers or storms.
SUNDAY:
This forecast is more challenging. Here’s what we know: Rain is definitely likely on Sunday, but timing of the rain remains a challenge to predict. Some of the forecast data has the rain coming in at or before the 2 p.m. start of the Bank of America 500, while some of the short range forecast models we use bring the rain in later for the second half of the race. Either way, rain will be an issue Sunday. It’s just a matter of when it rains, not if it rains. (I know Charlotte Motor Speedway has lights but more rain is likely Sunday night than during the day Sunday.)
Odds of racing the Monster Energy Cup Series Bank of America 500: Around 40 percent.
Odds of an official race: Around 40 percent.
Odds of a complete 500-mile race: Around 20 percent.
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All times Eastern
SATURDAY:
11 a.m. — Cup series practice
Forecast: Partly sunny
Winds: SE 5-10 mph
Temperature: 75
12:05 p.m. — Xfinity series qualifying
Forecast: Partly sunny
Winds: SE 5-10 mph
Temperature: 77
1:30 p.m. — Cup Series final practice
Forecast: Partly sunny, chance of showers or storm
Winds: SE 5-10 mph
Temperature: 79
3 p.m. — Xfinity Series: Drive for The Cure 300
Forecast: Sun and clouds, chance of showers or storm
Winds: SE 5-10 mph
Temperature: 80
SUNDAY:
1 p.m. — Bank of America 500 pre race
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, possible showers
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 77
2 p.m. — Bank of America 500
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, possible showers
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 78
3 p.m. — Bank of America 500
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, showers likely
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 79
4 p.m. — Bank of America 500
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, showers likely
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 79
5 p.m. — Bank of America 500
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, showers likely
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 77
MONDAY (IF NEEDED):
11 a.m. — Bank of America 500 pre race
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 79
12 p.m. — Bank of America 500 pre race
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 80
1 p.m. — Bank of America 500 pre race
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, showers likely
Winds: South 5-10 mph
Temperature: 81
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