Masters 2024 weather: Strong winds roll into Augusta during first round
Patrons traveling to Augusta National for the first round of The Masters tournament Thursday will need to be prepared for unfavorable weather conditions on the course, as recent predictions call for potential showers and strong wind gusts.
The National Weather Service in Columbia predicts a 20% chance of rain Thursday, with wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
As of 2 p.m., the wind speed in Augusta was holding steady at 30 mph, according to the weather service. There is still a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5 p.m.
A wind advisory issued Thursday morning remains in effect until 8 p.m.
"Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects," the weather service noted in the advisory. "Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Winds this strong can make driving difficult. Use extra caution."
In the event of inclement weather, Augusta National will post a weather warning sign on scoreboards and message boards.
When then sign appears, patrons are advised to avoid:
Bodies of water
Golf carts
Hilltops and high places
Isolated trees
Open areas
Wire fences
Suspension of play will be signaled by an air horn. Patrons should take shelter immediately if they hear the sound.
Here is an in-depth weather forecast for the tournament, according to the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel:
Return to this story for periodic updates that reflect the latest forecast.
Thursday's forecast – April 11 (Round 1)
Day: Chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 79 degrees.
UV index: 8 - very high
Winds: Up to 31 mph, with gusts reaching 45 mph.
Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low of 54 degrees. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wind gusts may reach 31 mph.
Friday's forecast – April 12 (Round 2)
Day: Sunny and breezy, with a high of 73 degrees.
UV index: 8 - very high
Winds: Up to 21 mph, with gusts reaching 33 mph.
Night: Clear skies, with a low of 50 degrees.
Saturday's forecast – April 13 (Round 3)
Day: Sunny, with a high of 77 degrees.
UV index: 8 - very high
Winds: Up to 14 mph
Night: Clear skies, with a low of 52 degrees.
Sunday's forecast – April 14 (Round 4)
Day: Sunny, with a high of 86 degrees.
UV index: 9 - very high
Winds: Up to 10 mph
Night: Mostly clear skies, with a low of 59 degrees.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Masters weather 2024 Thursday: Windy after storms, weekend forecast
