UPDATED: NSI Game Day Weather - Yankees vs. Red Sox vs. Rain - Delay Potential Discussed

Update (1:30 PM): Steve has checked in with a weather update. Looks like the rain has stayed away for the most part, and he is dropping the delay potential to moderate:

The heaviest rain will remain to the south and east of the Bronx through the rest of the evening hours. There will remain a risk of scattered showers through 8 PM, but a delay is not expected now. The rest of the forecast is unchanged.

It appears that all systems are go! We'll see you at the game tonight!

We don't usually get caught up in the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry hype, but this is the series we have all been waiting for. The Yankees are flying high, returning home in first place, 2.5 games up on the hated Red Sox - even while losing all 8 head-to-head battles thus far in '09. The calendar is fast approaching the time of year that Yankees fans live for - October. These games have the potential to be the most exciting that the "new house" has ever seen.

Of course, it is Summer '09, so it means that rain is in the forecast - the only thing that can put a damper on the excitement. Luckily, we have Steve DiMartino of NYNJPAWeather.com on hand to prepare us for the uncontrollable atmospheric conditions. Since the last home stand, Steve has been hard at work on a new forecast format for these NSI game day weather reports. At the bottom of his update, you will find a "delay potential" section and a "postponement potential" section. We have introduced this to help fans who travel long distances in making their decision about if/when they are going to leave for the game. Here is what Steve has to say today:

Well, anyone who loves baseball knows all about the wars that the Yankees and Red Sox have had over the years, decades, even centuries. Yes, centuries! Anyway, just because the Yankees and Red Sox will be battling for first place doesn’t mean the rain is not going to stay away.

An area of low pressure will continue to slide to the east of the Bronx this evening with showers lingering through the start of the game. The rain will end from from northwest to southeast through the evening with clearing conditions likely after 8 PM. Winds will back from the east to northeast around 5 mph, which will have little impact on the game conditions. However, winds will be blowing in from right field with a slight influence in the outfield. Temperatures will range from 70 to 75 through the game tonight.

Game Delay Potential: High The initial start of the game may be delayed until at least 8 PM, but game conditions will improve as the evening progresses

Game Delay Potential: Moderate The initial start of the game may be delayed until at least 8 PM, but game conditions will improve as the evening progresses

Game Postponement: Low (conditions will drastically improve after 8 PM, and the bulk of the rain will remain to the south )

Wind Direction This Evening

Rest of the Series:

The Yankees host the Red Sox through the weekend and the threat of rain will linger right through the series. Generally dry conditions can be expected on Friday night, however an isolated shower is still possible in the early evening. I don’t expect much of any impact through. Winds will be light and variable with temperatures in the lower to mid 70’s.

On Saturday, the Yankees will play at 4:05 PM. Got to love Fox Sports right? Anyway, clouds will increase through the day as a low pressure system approaches. The threat of rain will increase towards the later innings as an area of showers and thunderstorms approaches from northern Pennsylvania. Winds will be from the south around 5 to 15 mph. Temperatures will range from the mid to upper 70’s for highs.

ESPN takes over on Sunday with a game at 8 PM. The forecast is a bit tricky here as a warm front will move through in the afternoon with showers and thunderstorms followed by a cold front overnight. Between the two frontal boundary, an area of dry conditions is expected. Currently, the timing of this dry period run through the evening hours, giving the chance for the game to be played. Winds will be from the southwest around 10 to 20 mph and temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s.

Rest of the Series:

The threat of showers and thunderstorms will remain through the rest of the home stand for the start of next week. A stationary front will focus a series of disturbances over the region that will lead to periods of showers and thunderstorms. The stationary front will waver over the Bronx, but for the most part is expected to be north of the region. As a result, south to southwesterly winds can be expected for the most part along with temperatures ranging from the lower 90’s at the start of the games, falling into the 80’s through the rest of the evening.

Once again, we'd like to thank Steve for the updates he provides regarding Yankee Stadium weather. These posts are invaluable for fans traveling to games that are impacted by weather, as shown by the Google-referred traffic that they generate. We may not be able to control the weather, but if affects our plans, so it helps to be armed with the most accurate information.

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