By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
April 7,2014; 9:09PM,EDT
A storm system has affected the Augusta National Golf Club, Ga. Rain and thunderstorms have postponed the first round of practice Monday at the 2014 Masters.
The storm system is forecast to roll northeastward across Georgia from the Gulf of Mexico through Monday night.
The storms have the potential to drop 1-3 inches of rain and cause flash flooding in the Augusta area. Some of the storms in the area will be strong enough to down tree limbs and cause frequent lightning strikes.
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.
Some of the grounds may remain soggy for practice on Tuesday following heavy rainfall into the Monday evening hours.
Breezy and cooler weather is expected to settle in across the area Tuesday and Wednesday for practice both days. Rain is expected to avoid the area during much of the day Tuesday and may help to dry out the grounds during the afternoon. However, showers and thunderstorms may roll through the area again on Tuesday night. A brief shower or storm cannot be ruled out on Wednesday.
Temperatures are forecast to hover in the 60s much of the time Tuesday and Wednesday with readings only briefly touching 70 F.
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)As expected by AccuWeather, the rain became frequent enough and the storms strong enough to disrupt practice Monday.
Much improved weather with good drying conditions, sunshine and a warming trend are in store for the main rounds Thursday through Saturday.
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Severe Weather Center
Interactive Augusta, Ga., Radar
Eisenhower Tree Removed After Ice Storm
Expensive Winter for Storm Cleanup
"The weather for the three 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 at some point on Sunday during 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.
On Social Media
Neil McLeman Mirror
NeilMcLeman
Mark Hayes
HayesyHeraldSun
Rain and storms have forced closure of Augusta National for day. First time since 2003 a complete day's practice has been lost. #Masters
Stephen Schramm
stephenschramm
Storms forced the gates to Augusta National to be closed at 10 a.m. They won't reopen today. First practice washout since 2003. #Masters
10h
No comments:
Post a Comment