With dramatic scenes on Tuesday in torrential rain and those huge puddles, another Yellow rain warning for this weekend's Elite road races isn't great news but it won't rain all the time in Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire 2019 UCI Road World Championships has already seen plenty of rain with clips from the time trials of spectacular wipeouts in huge puddles making viewers cringe. This weekend’s forecast does not bring great news, there will be more rain but it's worth reflecting that Tuesday’s rain was torrential due to a tropical boost from what was once Hurricane Humberto. The low pressures around this weekend don’t have the same energy input.
However, there is still the potential for wet weather, particularly for Sunday’s race with a Yellow warning for heavy rain having already been issued by the UK Met Office.
For spectators, is there anywhere to head to avoid the rain? Not really on Sunday morning.
On Saturday the showers will be blown in from the SW, so there will be some shelter from the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District, a slight rain shadow to the east of high ground. There will also be bright spells and some dry weather, but blustery showers will pass by on the freshening SW winds. As they move through quickly, they should come and go, not causing too many problems. Worth keeping an eye on the Netweather Radar, whilst you wait roadside to track the incoming showers.
If your weather app is showing rain rain rain, it means there is a risk of a rain shower throughout the day, but it won’t actually be raining all day. An important understanding of weather app output and showers. As the showers pass by the winds will pick up, turning gusty as the skies darken, then soon enough back to bright skies.
Sunday is a different kettle of fish with the potential for moderate to heavy rain. The winds start from the east but will vary as a low pressure moves across Yorkshire. The point on the surface pressure charts where the warm front/cold front and occluding front meet is called the triple point. Under that will be the heaviest rain. With a few days to go, the speed and location of the low are likely to change, as it has done already this week but there is high confidence that there will be a spell of very wet weather followed by hefty showers. If the low pressure travels a bit further north, it will be windier, there will be a spell fo rain from the warm front, then muggy, murky grey conditions before the cold front moves through with heavier rain.
So, although Sunday has a yellow warning like Tuesday 24th when there were riders falling off or wobbling in big puddles and the Elite Women’s time trial was delayed, hopefully, there won’t be as much standing water. There is the risk of surface water flooding, the Environment Agency has already issued a low-risk warning across much of England and Wales.
Saturday- Bradford, Masham, Harrogate Women's Elite road race
Freshening SW Winds 15C to 17C light rain showers with bright or sunny spells. Gusting 30mph+ in showers
Sunday - Leeds Skipton Harrogate Men's Elite road race
A cool day with moderate to heavy rain likely for a time in the morning. Some easing for the afternoon but still cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain and variable winds. Cool at 14C
More information about Yorkshire2019
