My apologies for the delay in my usual Tuesday posting on the weather trend. A very complex situation still has no clear solution in terms of how much, for how long and "Lord have mercy... why is the cat building an ark?"

Upper level cut off low, Joaquin, High out of the Atlantic and a ton of tropical moisture being fed across the Southeast. In short my fellow Mountaineers mentally prep for rain; and perhaps, a lot of it.

Don't know how to put it another way. Looks like a soggy, sloppy wet mess of a weather trend is unfolding. Given the 10+ inches of rain already received, in parts of the High Country, the potential for flooding is trying to ring "Hells Bells".

For those who will be traveling in from other parts of the state, Eastern NC to the Piedmont, if you buy into the modeling today, substantial flooding appears in the offing as late Friday Saturday & Sunday unfold. Can't stress enough, the need for caution when traveling too and from the game this weekend (If the big bucket of heavy rain ugliness verifies). If you happen across a flooded road, turn around, don't drown, find an alternate route.

There is still much uncertainty as to the track of hurricane Joaquin (wha-KEEN). It's not so much a hit for the Boone zone, but the amount of additional moisture that can be drawn across the region; orographic lift is not our friend as precip is forced up, we squeeze the sponge.

Friends, the die hard of the Mountaineer fan base will not be swayed; these folks, will show and put butts in the seats. For those on the cusp, I say, wait, make a decision later Thursday night or early Friday morning. There is some hope, the heaviest rain concerns may not be the big issue for the Mountains, and portions of the Western Piedmont, as my current thinking goes. Good rain gear will be a must.

8 AM - Cloudy, Rain - 51

NOON - Cloudy, Rain - 55

KICK OFF - Rain - 57

HALF TIME - Rain - 58

END OF GAME - RAIN - 57

I'll update the forecast later today, again Thursday and Friday. It's not positive I know, but I sure hope many will still make the trip for Homecoming. My butt will be sitting the stands cheering on what appears to be one hell of a good football team!

GO MOUNTAINEERS

Got my waterproof golf rain gear and my duck boots and will be there. On the bright side, the Apps play great under adverse weather conditions most of the time. App tailgate tents will be up and the show will go on.

Go Apps!

Yup... Games like these make great stories when we get older!

And 5 minutes later the WX Trend is:

Thanks, WXAPP. As I read your latest update, I was thinking back to the Samford game of some years ago and Armanti's "Nintendo, meet Harry Houdini!" play. Yes, these games will be long remembered. It's all good.

All I am worried about is getting back down the mountain. If the piedmont gets as much as expected, I can see the roadways off the mountain being just an absolute mess with flooding and/or landslides..

But 0 worries while on the mountain! I will be there regardless of weather!

Any chance this game gets cancelled?

Thanks for the updates WXAPP! As I said to a buddy of mine today, "Remember that one year when all the games were sunny and perfect weather? Me either." Go APP!!!

crossza wrote:Any chance this game gets cancelled?

Two chances...slim and none. UWYO has a long and expensive trip starting sometime tomorrow. It would take a natural disaster or a credible terror threat to postpone or cancel this game. Tornado warnings or cloud-to-ground lightning during the game could cause a delay out of concern for safety; but that's always the policy.

We drove 5.5 hours to sit in rain last week so driving to Boone to sit in the rain is no big deal. The crowd for rain games while usually smaller has always been more energetic.

A lot of fans compare us to ECU; well they had a packed house for VT last week despite constant rain. No excuses for people who have tickets to not come out and support the team.

asu66 wrote:

crossza wrote:Any chance this game gets cancelled?

Two chances...slim and none. UWYO has a long and expensive trip starting sometime tomorrow. It would take a natural disaster or a credible terror threat to postpone or cancel this game. Tornado warnings or cloud-to-ground lightning during the game could cause a delay out of concern for safety; but that's always the policy.

I remember when Idaho traveled to Florida. Played one play, then the game was canceled. Not postponed, but canceled. As mentioned above, it would take a lot for this game to be canceled. Florida still paid Idaho close to $1 million that day.

Some of the data, mind you ever changing for now, has been in the 3-5"+ range for Boone Friday through Sunday. I've got some conference calls with the NWS in a few hours, will see what they are thinking for all of this. I'll update later tonight around 7:30 ish.. if I'm not busy with storms.

Thanks WXAPP! Any idea on wind? We can stay dry enough during the tailgate using tents unless the wind will tear those tents down!

My forecast is there will not be as much rain as currently projected due to certain weather things happening. No details to follow.

rain in feet?

asu66 wrote:

crossza wrote:Any chance this game gets cancelled?

Two chances...slim and none. UWYO has a long and expensive trip starting sometime tomorrow. It would take a natural disaster or a credible terror threat to postpone or cancel this game. Tornado warnings or cloud-to-ground lightning during the game could cause a delay out of concern for safety; but that's always the policy.

Oh please, not another Texas State game. Two years ago the Pokes went to San Marcos, TX and in the middle of the second quarter the game was delayed by lightning and a deluge for nearly 5 hours. Please not that again.

Rain in feet... Too bad not the white stuff. Would be epic!

JTApps1 wrote:We drove 5.5 hours to sit in rain last week so driving to Boone to sit in the rain is no big deal. The crowd for rain games while usually smaller has always been more energetic.

A lot of fans compare us to ECU; well they had a packed house for VT last week despite constant rain. No excuses for people who have tickets to not come out and support the team.

No, they didn't. I watched a good portion of the game on TV and had some coworkers who attended. Both what I saw and what my coworkers said they saw was just over half full. Now, that's not too bad considering the conditions, but it wasn't anywhere near full.

I guess it's silly of me to be concerned about the safety of our fans traveling through flood conditions. After all, nothing is more important than the game.

Big storm just opened up on us here in downtown Shulls Mill. The Watauga can't hold much more. :>(

FREE APP STATE life jackets for the first 10,000 fans!!!