Ehsan KassimUSA TODAY NETWORK
Weather was a heavy factor during the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. So, it's fair to wonder if it could be a factor at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
The first day of the double-elimination tournament started strong, with no delays due to the weather. But looking ahead at the forecast for the rest of the week, there could be concerns about potential delays, starting with Day 2 on Saturday.
REQUIRED READING: How Tennessee baseball reinvented pitching staff to get back to College World Series
Recent history suggests weather could be a factor, as well. Last season, Tennessee baseball faced a delay in a College World Series matchup against LSU after the Stanford-Wake Forest game was delayed with lightning in the area during the seventh inning.
Here's what you need to know about potential weather delays at the College World Series and Saturday's forecast:
MORE: Buy College World Series tickets with StubHub
Omaha weather forecast today
While the weather was clear on Friday, Saturday poses a bigger threat to potential delays, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS offers forecasts for both Saturday and Saturday night:
Forecasts as of 10 p.m. ET on Friday
Saturday:
"Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10am. High near 88. South wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible."
Saturday night:
"Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible."
Moreover, Weather.com forecasts a not-insignificant chance of rain throughout the day in Omaha, Nebraska:
Forecasts as of 10 p.m. ET on Friday. All times Eastern
- 2 p.m.: 24% chance of rain (cloudy)
- 3 p.m.: 39% chance of rain (scattered thunderstorms)
- 4 p.m.: 49% chance of rain (scattered thunderstorms)
- 5 p.m.: 61% chance of rain (thunderstorms)
- 6 p.m.: 49% chance of rain (scattered thunderstorms)
- 7 p.m.: 47% chance of rain (scattered thunderstorms)
The first game of Bracket 2, between No. 2 overall seed Kentucky and No. 10 NC State, is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET Saturday. No. 3 Texas A&M and unseeded Florida are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. The five hours between games potentially gives the grounds crew a little bit of leeway to get the game ready.
The Vols vs. Tigers game was initially slated to start at 7 p.m. ET but was pushed back to 7:40 due to the delay in the previous game. The first pitch was also not until 65 minutes after the conclusion of the Wake Forest vs. Stanford game.
NCAA weather policy for College World Series
Here is a look at the NCAA's weather policy for the College World Series as it tries to keep the games organized by the order in which they are played. They have laid out a policy for fans attending the games, which is shared below:
"While every situation is different based on time of day and which game, the following are standard procedures when inclement weather disrupts a game or games.No game will be skipped. Meaning each game will continue in the order it is scheduled to play. If weather changes the date, the rescheduled game will still precede any future games.Mobile tickets are good for the game only. If the game date is moved due to weather, the mobile ticket for that game must be used. If a game is started then delayed or postponed to a new time/day, the mobile ticket will be scanned for use during the new start time. Please hold on to that ticket."
- No game will be skipped, meaning each game will continue in the order it is scheduled to play. If weather changes the date, the delayed/rescheduled game will still precede any future games.
- Tickets are good for the delayed/rescheduled game only. If the game date is moved due to weather, the ticket for the delayed/rescheduled game must be used.
- If a game is delayed, but resumed the same day, fans must present the mobile ticket for the delayed game to re-enter the stadium for the continuation of play.
- If a game is started then postponed to a new date/time, mobile tickets will be updated to reflect the new date/time. The updated mobile ticket will be scanned for re-entry into the stadium.
- In the event of a total game postponement to the following day, meaning the game did not begin at its scheduled time, mobile tickets will be updated to reflect the new date/time. The updated mobile ticket will be scanned for entry into the stadium.
- There are no refunds on tickets as all games will be played.
- TO RESOLVE ANY TICKETS ISSUES. FANS SHOULD VISIT THE WEST (THIRD BASE) TICKET RESOLUTION BOX OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
