Weather for upcoming home games (2018)

[OldChelsea]

Looking a bit unpromising for most of the upcoming homestand, at least on the precip front, per weather.com (but, as always, bear in mind that some of these do get walked back a bit):

Tuesday 15th (Yankees) - 20%
Wednesday 16th  (Yankees) - 90% (thundershowers)
Thursday 17th (open) - 80% (thundershowers)
Friday 18th (Dodgers) - 100% (thundershowers)
Saturday 19th (Dodgers) - 80% (thundershowers)
Sunday 20th (Dodgers) -50% (thundershowers)
Monday 21st (Padres) - 40% (plain old showers)
Tuesday 22nd (Padres) - 20%
Wednesday 23rd (Padres) - 20%

[Ray D]

It's possible that they will be unable to play both tonight and tomorrow.  So, doubleheader Thursday?  Yankees are off Thursday.   Although Thursday isn't looking good either.

[RobDibblesGhost]

Remember that Metro will be open an hour later tonight. This is specifically for the Caps game but all station entrances and exits will be open the additional hour so that might help if there's a brief rain delay. The weather app is showing a 30% chance of rain at 6:00 and then a 60 - 70% chance from 7:00 until 2:00 a.m.

[dcpatti]

It's possible that they will be unable to play both tonight and tomorrow.  So, doubleheader Thursday?  Yankees are off Thursday.   Although Thursday isn't looking good either.

Yankees have to travel to play in Kansas City, so they are going to be very reluctant to do a double header Thursday.

[OldChelsea]

Updating, again from weather.com:

Tonight (Yankees) - 30% (isolated thunderstorms)
Wednesday 16th  (Yankees) - 80% (rain)
Thursday 17th (open) - 70% (rain)
Friday 18th (Dodgers) - 100% (rain)
Saturday 19th (Dodgers) - 70% (AM showers)
Sunday 20th (Dodgers) - 20%
Monday 21st (Padres) - 40% (showers)
Tuesday 22nd (Padres) - 20%
Wednesday 23rd (Padres) - 20%

The hour-by-hour forecast for tonight, during normal match times:

19.00 - 40%
20.00 - 60% (thundershowers)
21.00 - 75% (thundershowers)
22.00 - 80% (thundershowers)
23.00 - 75% (thundershowers)

[Natsinpwc]

Looks like they should be able to get tonight's game in.

[dcpatti]

Updating, again from weather.com:

Tonight (Yankees) - 30% (isolated thunderstorms)
Wednesday 16th  (Yankees) - 80% (rain)
Thursday 17th (open) - 70% (rain)
Friday 18th (Dodgers) - 100% (rain)
Saturday 19th (Dodgers) - 70% (AM showers)
Sunday 20th (Dodgers) - 20%
Monday 21st (Padres) - 40% (showers)
Tuesday 22nd (Padres) - 20%
Wednesday 23rd (Padres) - 20%

The hour-by-hour forecast for tonight, during normal match times:

19.00 - 40%
20.00 - 60% (thundershowers)
21.00 - 75% (thundershowers)
22.00 - 80% (thundershowers)
23.00 - 75% (thundershowers)

Sunday double header with the dodgers looking possible. Although they fly Sunday post-game to play the Rockies on Monday, it's still easier than coming back for a single game.

[Ray D]

Yankees have to travel to play in Kansas City, so they are going to be very reluctant to do a double header Thursday.

But they'll be well rested from Tuesday and Wednesday off.

[Ray D]

Sunday double header with the dodgers looking possible. Although they fly Sunday post-game to play the Rockies on Monday, it's still easier than coming back for a single game.

A quick look at the schedule, it seems that there are a few (possibly three) Thursdays that both teams are off and both are in the East either Wednesday or Friday.

[Slateman]

Honestly, it will be a grind, but it's in the Nationals' best interests to get as many games postponed until later in the season, when we have a healthy Murphy (and maybe Eaton) back.

[Ray D]

Honestly, it will be a grind, but it's in the Nationals' best interests to get as many games postponed until later in the season, when we have a healthy Murphy (and maybe Eaton) back.

With tens of thousands of Yankee fans swarming around the city, polluting our population, I'd kind of get a thrill out of seeing both games postponed so they will all have wasted a trip, spending two days doing nothing.

[dcpatti]

A quick look at the schedule, it seems that there are a few (possibly three) Thursdays that both teams are off and both are in the East either Wednesday or Friday.

I must be reading the schedule wrong because to me it looks like there is no day where we are off, the Dodgers are off AND the Dodgers are not west of the Mississippi. Could you share the dates you're seeing so I can figure out what I'm doing wrong?

[bluestreak]

I must be reading the schedule wrong because to me it looks like there is no day where we are off, the Dodgers are off AND the Dodgers are not west of the Mississippi. Could you share the dates you're seeing so I can figure out what I'm doing wrong?

I thought he was referring to the Yankees. I think they will get tonight in.

[Ray D]

I must be reading the schedule wrong because to me it looks like there is no day where we are off, the Dodgers are off AND the Dodgers are not west of the Mississippi. Could you share the dates you're seeing so I can figure out what I'm doing wrong?

I'll look more closely when I get a few minutes, and I may have gotten it wrong, but for example, I saw one Wednesday when the Nats are in NY and the Yankees in Philly, and both have Thursday off.  It would not be unreasonable to schedule a Nats/Yankee game in DC for that Thursday.

[dcpatti]

I'll look more closely when I get a few minutes, and I may have gotten it wrong, but for example, I saw one Wednesday when the Nats are in NY and the Yankees in Philly, and both have Thursday off.  It would not be unreasonable to schedule a Nats/Yankee game in DC for that Thursday.

Ah yeah we are talking about different teams. My comment had been about the chances of a Sunday double header to make up a Friday rainout against the Dodgers.  Nats/Wankees will be much easier to reschedule if needed.

[imref]

Capital Weather Gang:

Scattered showers and heavy thunderstorms may yank this game out of play. Activity may be delayed long enough to get more of the game in, but timing is tricky.

[How the Nationals make high-pressure weather decisions]

First pitch: 85, mostly cloudy, moderate humidity, potential showers/storms

Ninth inning: 76, cloudy with potential showers or storms

Chance of rain: 75 percent

Chance of delay: 70 percent

Chance of postponement: 50 percent

[Ray D]

It might not be raining at game time (7pm) but there is a good chance that it will have rained the previous two hours (necessitating some delay to get the field ready) and the chance of rain increases dramatically beginning at 8 and as the evening progresses.  I'd say "Chance of postponement: 50 percent" is optimistic.

[Natsinpwc]

It might not be raining at game time (7pm) but there is a good chance that it will have rained the previous two hours (necessitating some delay to get the field ready) and the chance of rain increases dramatically beginning at 8 and as the evening progresses.  I'd say "Chance of postponement: 50 percent" is optimistic.

Isn't the forecast thundershowers?  They will get the game in. Especially with more rain forecast tomorrow.

[WilyMoP]

The real question -- will they show the Caps game on the scoreboard during rain delays?

[OldChelsea]

Updating from weather.com, including some hours immediately prior to scheduled first pitch:

15.00 - 15% (mostly cloudy)
16.00 - 35% (isolated thundershowers)
17.00 - 50% (scattered thundershowers)
18.00 - 45% (scattered thundershowers)
19.00 - 50% (scattered thundershowers)
20.00 - 60% (thundershowers)
21.00 - 65% (thundershowers)
22.00 - 70% (thundershowers)
23.00 - 75% (thundershowers)
00.00 - 75% (thundershowers)

...and on and on into the night and through tomorrow - chance of precip not dipping below 50% tomorrow.

[Five Banners]

It might not be raining at game time (7pm) but there is a good chance that it will have rained the previous two hours (necessitating some delay to get the field ready) and the chance of rain increases dramatically beginning at 8 and as the evening progresses.  I'd say "Chance of postponement: 50 percent" is optimistic.

Given what's happened quite often in the past -- letting people spend money for a few hours in the park, only to cancel when it's clear that they should have done so long ago, I'd say the chance of a postponement announced prior to the gates opening are quite low.

[OldChelsea]

Interesting that this series of thundershower-filled days includes a home series against the Dodgers. Maybe it's just me, but it seems we always have weather issues during their visits (including 2011, when one match was never played due to a lengthy run of rain postponements).

[Five Banners]

They should concentrate on getting in an afternoon game tomorrow and rescheduling the other game for that Thursday mentioned upthread that could work logistically for both. (And let us concentrate on the Caps tonight.)

https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=DC125AA46F70C8.FlashFloodWatch.125AA47D9450DC.LWXFFALWX.96ffd45b0ed1f7936bdbb681194decbe

Event:   Flash Flood Watch
Alert:   
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has expanded
the
 
* Flash Flood Watch to include portions of central Maryland, The
District of Columbia, and northern Virginia, including the
following areas, in central Maryland, Prince Georges. The
District of Columbia. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls
Church/Alexandria and Fairfax.
 
* From 3 PM EDT this afternoon through late tonight
 
* A front will sag across the region this afternoon into this
evening. A couple rounds of thunderstorms are expected to
accompany the front and should move across the Mason-Dixon
region late afternoon. These thunderstorms should push farther
south and east into eastern West Virginia, northern Virginia
and portions of northern Maryland during the evening. Heavy
rainfall and lightning will be the main threats with the
potential of encountering damaging winds and hail in the
strongest thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts could average 1 to 3
inches later this afternoon and this evening. Flash flooding
is possible, especially in slow-moving thunderstorms.
 
Instructions:   A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Target Area:   
District of Columbia

[bluestreak]

So give me a prediction? Is this game going to be played? Should I head to the park?

[Ray D]

So give me a prediction? Is this game going to be played? Should I head to the park?

Yes, percent chance of precipitation has dropped steadily to where it doesn't exceed 50% until 10.  So I think it will start on time with the hope of getting five innings in.  I doubt they will get nine innings in without a significant delay.