French Open: Rain to continue on Tuesday following first wash-out since 2000

By Adam Douty, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

May 30,2016; 8:32PM,EDT

 

 

A continuous rain fell on the French Open Monday resulting in the first complete cancelation of matches since 2000.
Northern France will remain at risk for occasional rain through the first half of the week, threatening to cause additional delays at the French Open.
An area of low pressure will remain stationary over the region for several days, leading to unsettled weather through at least Wednesday.

Periods of rain and drizzle will continue through Tuesday morning before yielding to an afternoon shower or thunderstorm.
Cool air will accompany the rain. The expected high of 16 C (60 F) on Tuesday is well below the normal high of 20 C (68 F) for the end of May.
RELATED:
11 people hit by lightning in Paris park
MinuteCast® for your location
Interactive France weather radar
As the low pressure system spins across the region on Wednesday, the rainfall will tend to become more scattered. This should prove beneficial as there will be more numerous and longer breaks of dry weather, allowing for continued play.
A few showers are possible on Thursday and Friday, but mostly dry weather is expected. A continued trend toward drier weather is expected this weekend.
Spectators wait for matches to start for the French Open Tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, May 23,2016 in Paris. Showers over Paris on Monday have forced the organizers to delay the start of play. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
The French Open is the only tournament in the Grand Slam system that plays on a clay court, and various weather conditions can have a huge impact. Any amount of rain or moisture can drastically change how the court plays.
"If the court is damp and cool, the court plays slower. Tennis balls get heavier and the overall conditions slow down," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.
Matches will go on if it's raining, as long as it's light rain, Rayno said.
Weather delayed the first two days of the tournament last week.
French Open players will have to wait until at least 2028 before weather will no longer have an impact on the clay court, as renovation plans for Roland Garros remain in limbo, according to the Associated Press.
Content contributed by Meteorologist Eric Leister