Weather
Carter, Julie
Hello SCCCC Riders,
As you may or may not have seen, there is a slight chance for severe weather in Wichita Falls, particularly from 6PM on Saturday (about the time we will be wrapping up the time trials) through the early hours of Sunday morning. Conditions will be favorable for pop-up storms that could produce hail or tornados, especially after that 6PM mark on Saturday. We do not, however, expect to see any storms (or even much, if any, rain) during our races on Saturday; strong winds are expected throughout the day on Saturday, though. Until we have word of lightning, hail, tornados, or flooding in the area, the races will still take place.
If you are camping on Saturday night, you may want to have some sort of back-up plan to get indoors if necessary because that would be the more likely time for rain and storms. Overnight between Saturday night and Sunday morning, there is a more serious threat for dangerous weather than at any other time over the weekend.
In the event that the slight chance of storms during our races does come to pass, we do have a plan for emergency evacuation should the need arise during the road race or time trials. In the event of severe weather, our officials have been briefed on the proper actions to take in still finishing the race to allow for placings. The most likely course of action would be to have the follow official in the wheel car speed around your group (yelling out the window to make you aware) and finish the group on that lap or possibly in a spot that isn't even the finish line. I will have the MSU trailer & 15 passenger van that could carry about 30+ people & their bikes in an emergency situation (though this is not expected to be necessary ... just letting you know there is an emergency plan). In this extreme case, I would begin driving backwards on the course to get riders that are more than a mile from the finish line to carry them to safety.
The Executive Director of Hotter'N Hell Hundred who I work closely with for the HHH races every year is a weather spotter for the National Weather Service, and he will be in direct phone contact with me as he is out spotting throughout the day. He is very aware of our event times and location and will be giving me information that could affect the race.
If the need arises during the criterium, the Clark Student Center that is across the street from the start/finish would be the place to go. There is a 70% chance that all of the rain will have passed through the area before the criterium. There is a chance, though, that we will need to postpone events and shorten or combine events. Ultimately, the chief ref and I will make the calls on what is safe to do.
With all of this being said, I expect partially sunny skies for the first wave of races in the road race and then some clouds, wind, and warm weather during the 2nd wave of races.
We hope you will still come to Wichita Falls! We always make the effort to get to every road event and have braved a lot of nasty weather in other venues along the way. In 2009, we even raced in snow! I'm definitely hoping that everything will remain clear.
Thanks!
Julie