What is the forecast for Daytona 500? Timing of rain depends on arrival of cold front

Orlando Weather Forecast: Worst FL drought since 2012

FOX 35 Storm Team Senior Meteorologist Noah Bergren is tracking nice, warm, sunny, and dry weather in the days to come with a preview of the Daytona 500 as well this weekend.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A cold front is expected to move across Florida late next weekend, bringing a chance of rain to Central Florida.

Forecasters say showers are most likely to arrive after the Daytona 500 concludes.

What To Expect:

Forecast models differ, but the overall consensus suggests any rain would hold off until late Sunday night or early Monday. 

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Some projections, including the American GFS model, indicate showers developing after midnight Monday, a scenario that would allow the race to run as scheduled.

Meteorologists said confidence in the forecast will improve by midweek, when higher-resolution models become available to better assess rain timing for Sunday’s race.

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Rain has affected the Daytona 500 in each of the past two years, but it has never disrupted the race three years in a row. 

The only back-to-back rain-shortened races occurred in 1965 and 1966. In other years, including 2012, 2020, 2021 and 2024, rain caused delays or postponements, but not in three consecutive seasons.