Weather should improve for Pocono this weekend

Rain at Pocono in 2016

Following episodes of flooding downpours in the northeastern United States, weather conditions will improve, but it may not be totally rain-free for all events at Pocono Raceway this weekend.

Racing at Long Pond, Pennsylvania, this weekend includes the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) racing series ModSpace 150 at 4 p.m. EDT Friday, the NASCAR Camping World Truck series Gander Outdoors 150 at 1 p.m. Saturday and the NASCAR Monster Energy series Gander Outdoors 400 at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

A lull in the drenching downpours is forecast to develop this weekend and just in time for most racing activities at Pocono, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek.

"There is at least the chance the entire weekend does not bring a drop of rain at Pocono," Dombek said.

"There will still be a significant risk of a thunderstorm on Friday, but the vast majority of the time is likely to be free of rain that day," Dombek added.

On Friday, high humidity and an approaching push of cooler air have the potential to bring a thunderstorm or two with torrential downpours, brief wind gusts and, of course, lightning strikes from the afternoon to the evening. There is the risk of a couple of disruptions, delays and changes in the schedule of practice, qualifying and racing.

Less humid conditions are forecast for Saturday and Sunday, along with a much lower chance of rain.

There is a slight chance of a brief shower or thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon and evening. However, the overall coverage of thunderstorm activity in the Northeast states is probably going to be under 5 or 10 percent of the area on Saturday.

On Sunday, for the 400-mile race, showers and thunderstorms are forecast to gather to the south and west of the Poconos during the afternoon. At this time, any rain is likely to hold off until the evening or overnight hours.

AccuWeather is now the official weather service provider for the Pocono Raceway, as well as the presenting partner of the Raceway's "Worry-Free Weather Guarantee."