NASCAR Weather Forecast Phoenix International Raceway: More Dry Than Wet

The weather looks like it will cooperate for NASCAR this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.

Early in the week, I was getting a lot of tweets from worried fans who had looked at some of the weather forecasts for Phoenix back on Monday when it was calling for rain. I try to tell these fans not to get all worked up six-to-seven days out.

A dirty little secret in the world of weather forecasting is that forecasts beyond five days have an accuracy, on average, of less than 50 percent – and sometimes as low as 30 percent. That is why, if you follow my forecasts each week throughout the NASCAR season, I don't usually post my first forecast until Wednesday. 

An upper-level storm system to will move in from the Pacific on Friday, then drift south of Arizona on Saturday and Sunday. With each run of the forecast models, the system is located farther and farther south.

This is good news for NASCAR, because it takes most of the energy and rain threat farther south, too.

Friday and Saturday should be fair with partly-to-mostly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-to-low 70s. There is a small chance of a shower on Sunday, but it doesn't appear to be a major concern. At worst, a stray shower or two mightresult in a brief caution, but other than that, the race will take place under mostly cloudy skies and cooler conditions with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s.

Conditions in Phoenix, AZ: Click here for Current Weather Conditions | Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar

FRIDAY:
1:30 p.m ET
Sprint Cup Practice – Mostly cloudy – temp: 68
3:30  p.m ET
Nationwide Final Practice – Mostly cloudy – temp: 75
5:30  p.m ET
Sprint Cup Final Practice– Mostly cloudy – temp: 76

SATURDAY:
12  p.m ET
Nationwide Qualifying – Clouds and sunshine – temp: 63
1:30  p.m ET
Sprint Cup Qualifying – Clouds and sunshine – temp: 67
3:30  p.m ET
Nationwide Race – Partly Sunny skies – temp: 72

SUNDAY:
3  p.m ET
Sprint Cup Race – Mostly cloudy, cooler, possible shower – temp: 67

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