Sunday’s Daytona 500 has already been impacted by weather, as the start time for “The Great American Race” was moved up on Friday to 2 p.m. ET.
While the time change was intended to avoid the rain in the forecast, it’s still possible weather will affect the race. Conditions in Daytona Beach could deteriorate as the day goes on, and an earlier start to the rain than previously expected could risk delaying the race.
Unfortunately, the Daytona 500 is no stranger to weather-related delays. Last year’s race was postponed to Monday due to rain, with William Byron winning on Presidents’ Day. All drivers are hoping to avoid a similar interruption this year.
Here is the latest forecast and weather updates for Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.
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Daytona 500 weather updates
One weather-related change has already taken effect, as the start time for the Daytona 500 will be 2 p.m. ET, rather than 3 p.m. ET. Will that be enough to avoid the rain?
There is a 50 percent chance of rain in Daytona Beach on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, with a chance of thunderstorms after 3 p.m. ET. 15-20 mph winds are expected, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
The hourly forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain at 1 p.m. ET, but the chances increase to 54 percent by 2 p.m. and 74 percent by 4 p.m. As day turns to night, however, the chance of rain dissipates to less than 10 percent by 6 p.m.
A 2 p.m. start time doesn’t necessarily mean the Daytona 500 will be able to avoid the rain even if it holds off until after the green flag, as conditions are expected to worsen mid-afternoon. The good news, however, is that the rain is only expected to last 2-4 hours. Even if a delay is necessary during the middle of the race, the forecast becomes much clearer between 5-6 p.m. through the end of the night.
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Daytona 500 weather forecast
Temperatures in Daytona Beach are expected to hover near 80 degrees at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with a 54 percent chance of rain at the race’s new start time. The highest chance of rain comes between 2-5 p.m., peaking at 74 percent at 4 p.m., so the race could be marred by wet weather.
The conditions are expected to bring some cooler temperatures, dipping to 70 degrees by 5 p.m., but the rain is currently forecasted to clear out by the evening.
Should Monday be needed to finish the race, the weather won’t be an issue. It’s expected to be 61 degrees and sunny on Presidents’ Day, at least giving NASCAR a solid backup plan if 200 laps can’t be completed on Sunday.
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What time does the Daytona 500 start?
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 16
- Time: Approximately 2 p.m. ET
Due to inclement weather in the forecast, NASCAR moved up the expected start time of Sunday’s Daytona 500 by an hour. Coverage is now set to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET, but the green flag won’t come until about 2 p.m. ET, according to NASCAR’s announcement.
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