World Series Forecast: How Much Will Weather Be a Factor?

Jon Erdman
Published: October 30,2016
A surreal 2016 World Series features two cold-climate cities starving for their first baseball championship since the early 20th century.
Here's a look at the forecast for Sunday night in Chicago, followed by what we can expect in Cleveland Tuesday if the World Series shifts back there.

Game 5: Mild, By Chicago Standards

Fortunately, for those who hope weather won't screw up sports championships, there are no major storm systems brewing for the Upper Midwest that could sink Sunday night's Game 5 at Chicago's Wrigley Field.
Sunday's first pitch will feature a temperature of about 50 degrees with the wind blowing in off of Lake Michigan at 5-10 mph. No rain is expected.
(FORECAST: Chicago)

Forecast for Game 5 of the World Series. Game to be played in Chicago.

The only World Series game in league history to be suspended due to rain was Game 5 of the 2008 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, when the combination of rain and wind in Philadelphia forced the Oct. 27 game to be completed two days later.
Coincidentally, current Cubs manager Joe Maddon was skipper of the Rays in that series eight years ago.
The last World Series games played in Wrigley Field featured daytime highs ranging from 51 degrees on Oct. 8, 1945, to a balmy 74 degrees on Oct. 7, 1945.

Games 6 and 7 Outlook: November Warmth in Cleveland

If this best-of-seven game series needs Games 6 and 7 in Cleveland Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather looks good as well.
Initial forecast guidance suggests that a cold front will be pushing through the western Great Lakes, but will not have enough energy to push through northern Ohio, keeping Cleveland very mild for early November.
The forecast calls for southerly winds and evening (game-time) temperatures in the upper 60s. Winds could play a role in Game 6 Tuesday night.

Forecast weather conditions for first pitch of Game 6 around 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

There could be some rain in the picture by late Wednesday in Cleveland as the front stalls. It would remain mild as well with temperatures in the 60s during the evening.
(FORECAST: Cleveland)
Incidentally, the coldest World Series game of the last 40 years was on Oct. 22, 1997, in Cleveland, with a game-time temperature of 38 degrees, wind chills in the upper teens and flurries falling during the game.
It remains too soon to tell if that sluggish front will push close enough to the Cleveland metro this week to spawn any showers.
Check back with us at weather.com for the latest updates on the World Series weather forecast.

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