NASCAR At Watkins Glen 2012: Potential Severe Weather In Forecast Today

After last weekend's tragic lightning incident at Pocono Raceway, weather will be a focus this weekend at Watkins Glen International. This is especially true with a slight risk of strong-to-severe storms during the day today.

Rain and storms are likely off and on today. During the afternoon some of the storms could be strong to potentially severe. The Storm Prediction Center has all of New York state in a slight risk for severe weather. Gusty winds, hail and frequent lightning are all possible with any storm that could develop later today. It could be a challenge to get all of the scheduled on-track events in today.

All of this activity is associated with a slow-moving storm system moving through the Great Lakes. It begins to lift out of the area Saturday and into Sunday. Other than today, the rest of the weekend looks mostly dry. There is only small chances of scattered-to-isolated showers Saturday and Sunday. The way the forecast looks, I don't expect any weather to cause either a washout or shortened race for either the Nationwide or Sprint Cup Series this weekend.

Please follow me on Twitter @NASCAR_WXMAN and like me on Facebook for the latest weather updates through the weekend.

Conditions in Watkins Glen, NY: Click here for Current Weather Conditions – Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar

FRIDAY:
9:00 a.m. EDT
Grand-Am Rolex Series practice – Showers and storms – temp: 70
11:00 a.m. EDT
Grand-Am Rolex Series practice – Showers and storms – temp: 75
12:00 p.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series practice – Showers and storms – temp: 75
2:00 p.m. EDT
Nationwide Series final practice – Showers and storms – temp: 78
4:10 p.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series final practice – Showers and storms – temp: 81
5:40 p.m. EDT
Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Protype qualifying – Showers and storms – temp: 79
6:00 p.m. EDT
Grand-Am Rolex Series GT Class qualifying – Showers and storms – temp: 77
6:30 p.m. EDT
Grand-Am Rolex Series practice – Showers and storms – temp: 76

SATURDAY:
9:35 a.m. EDT
Nationwide Series qualifying – Partly sunny, slight chance of a shower – temp: 68
11:40 a.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series qualifying – Partly sunny, chc. of scattered showers/storms – temp: 73
2:15 p.m. EDT
Nationwide Series race – Partly sunny, chc. of scattered showers/storms – temp: 79
6:00 p.m. EDT
Grand-Am Rolex Series race – Partly sunny, chc. of scattered showers/storms – temp: 76

SUNDAY:
12 p.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series Pre-race – Partly sunny, chance of an isolated shower – temp: 73
1 p.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Partly sunny, chance of an isolated shower – temp: 75
2 p.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Partly sunny, chance of an isolated shower – temp: 77
4 p.m. EDT
Sprint Cup Series Race – Partly sunny, chance of an isolated shower – temp: 77