Indy 500 forecast: Severe weather threatens iconic race Sunday
INDIANAPOLIS - We’re just a day away from the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500, but concerns remain that severe weather and rain on Sunday could impact the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where about 300,000 fans are expected to pack the stands.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has now placed the Indianapolis area in a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale on Sunday with the possibility of high-end severe weather events of strong tornadoes, hurricane-force wind gusts and golf ball-size hail.
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The threat of storms will exist during the day on Sunday and could last until the evening hours, covering the hours of the scheduled race time.
The city will likely face two rounds of severe weather threats. The first is a squall line of thunderstorms that is currently forecast to sweep through the Indianapolis area in the late morning into the early afternoon.
The primary threat would be for ferocious and damaging wind gusts along with torrential rain and frequent lightning as the squall line passes, although a tornado or two can't be ruled out.
There may be a few hours' break in the weather in the mid-to-late afternoon before another round of severe thunderstorms rolls through in the evening into Sunday night. These storms present threats of all forms of severe weather, from strong tornadoes to large hail and damaging wind gusts.
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History shows that the Indy 500 hasn’t been immune from extreme weather impacting the sports event. Precipitation has forced officials to cut the race short in the past, and spectators and drivers have been subjected to temperatures in the 90s as well as dropping into the upper 30s on the morning of the race.
According to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 1986 race was expected to be held on Sunday, May 25, but was postponed to the following day due to rain. However, that day was also washed out, and the race was successfully run on Saturday, May 31.
In 1997, the race was scheduled for Sunday, May 25, but was postponed due to rain. The precipitation stopped the race after 15 laps on May 26, and the race was finally completed on May 27.
Rain has also forced officials to shorten the Indy 500 due to inclement weather.
The first occurred in 1926 after 160 laps (400 miles), and three races in the 1970s were also shortened.
The last time the Indy 500 was shortened due to rain was back in 2007 after 166 laps (415 miles).
Original article source: Indy 500 forecast: Severe weather threatens iconic race Sunday
