For tennis fans wondering if they’ll be baking in the stands at this year’s U.S. Open, the answer is … at least not on day one.
The first round of the annual tournament is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Monday with temperatures in the low 80s and a chance of rain building through the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
“At its peak, it’s about a 50 percent chance,” said meteorologist James Thomasini, “And then there’s also the chance for thunderstorms as well.”
Among the star players scheduled to compete Monday is four-time champion Novak Djokovic and superstar Coco Gauff, who became the first American teenager to win the Women’s championship last year. The exact order of play has not yet been determined.
The Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums at Queens’ Billie Jean King National Tennis Center have retractable roofs, but dozens of matches are played on open courts around the facility. Umbrellas are allowed but they can’t be open while players are playing, according to the facility’s guidelines. The highest probability for showers could be anytime between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The rest of the week should serve mostly clear skies with highs in the low 80s, forecasters say.
This weekend should have temps a few degrees higher – to mark the last Saturday and Sunday of summer before Labor Day signals the unofficial start of fall.
“Temperatures will be back a little bit closer to normal for this time of year, or even a few degrees above normal,” Thomasini said. “Saturday, we’re looking at highs around the mid-80s, and then just a few degrees warmer on Sunday.”
With last week’s risk of rip currents cleared out, it could be a great time to visit the beach.