WeatherFanatics: Rain, Gusty Storms May Pester Practice Rounds at 2014 Masters

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Rain, Gusty Storms May Pester Practice Rounds at 2014 Masters

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

April 6,2014; 9:02PM,EDT

A storm system will affect the Augusta National Golf Club, Ga., area during the upcoming practice rounds at the 2014 Masters.
The storm system is forecast to roll northeastward across Georgia from the Gulf of Mexico through Monday.
After rain soaks Augusta Sunday night, thunderstorms capable of turning severe with damaging winds and downpours will follow for Monday afternoon and evening.
Augusta National takes no chances when thunderstorms come calling. The course has its own mini weather center where officials monitor radars and lightning. This way, golfers, spectators and crews can be evacuated from the course as soon as possible, when the situation warrants.

The rain could be heavy enough to make the ground soggy. The rain could be frequent enough and the storms strong enough to disrupt practice this day.

Cooler weather is expected to settle in across the area Tuesday and Wednesday for practice both days. Dry weather is expected to dominate on Tuesday and a shower will narrowly bypass the region on Wednesday.

Competitors approach the first green in a light rain shower during the third round of the 2008 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Saturday, April 12, 2008. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Temperatures could be held in the 60s much of the time Tuesday and Wednesday.
Good drying conditions are forecast later in the week through most of the weekend.
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"The weather for the four rounds of tournament play Thursday through Saturday is expected to be ideal for golf with light winds and warm sunshine," AccuWeather Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok said.
High temperatures will trend upward through the 70s and 80s Thursday through Saturday.
Depending upon the speed of a distant storm system next Sunday, there could be more clouds, lower temperatures and a shower or thunderstorm to close out the day on the 4th and Final Round.
Meanwhile, the Augusta National lost a senior member of the club this past winter. The loblolly pine on hole number 17, known as the Eisenhower Tree, was heavily damaged an ice storm this past winter. The tree had to be removed as a result.
Ice storms and cold caused extensive property, tree and landscape damage over the winter, causing headaches for cleanup crews at various golf courses in the South.
In some cases, the cold and frost was so penetrating, that underground sprinkler systems were damaged and had to be repaired in parts of the region.

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