03/10/2014
NEWS STORY
The latest update suggests a wet race on Sunday with the real threat coming afterwards as the F1 'circus' prepares to head to Russia.
The imminent threat to Japan from Typhoon Phanfone is gradually unravelling. The current forecasts from Formula 1 weather service UBIMET indicates the arrival of rain bands, at times heavy, for Sunday, with the centre of the typhoon passing close by on Monday morning with widespread transport disruption, structural damage and possible injuries.
For Sunday there are no significant changes to previous UBIMET forecasts. The rain will be largely persistent - possibly with an occasional drier interlude - but it will also become heavy at times, more likely after midday. Thus, at the scheduled start time of 15:00 a wet race seems to be the most likely scenario.
"Probably Phanfone will pass to the southeast of Suzuka," said on-site meteorologist Steffen Dietz. "There are also model solutions that can draw the eye directly on the race circuit. In both cases severe structural damage is expected on Monday, with possible widespread severe damage from the second case."
The Typhoon also creates a challenge for the race in Sochi as the huge mass of equipment must be dismantled and packed up immediately after the race on Sunday and into Monday. Keeping to this tight schedule will be wholly dependent on how the typhoon behaves and will surely present a major challenge.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.
Picture Credit: EUMETSAT / UBIMET