Coke Zero Sugar 400 rain update: Weather forecast for NASCAR race at Daytona

Daniel Suarez pays attention to the weather forecast before each of his NASCAR races . The upcoming Coke Zero Sugar 400 is no different in that regard.

"Daytona is just very unpredictable because it's so close to the beach that it just changes so much," Suarez told the News-Journal.

A chance of rain and thunderstorms looms for Saturday's big showcase. The Cup Series will hit the track at 7:30 p.m. for its regular-season finale — as long as Mother Nature cooperates.

"It's interesting," said Suarez, who drives the No. 7 of Spire Motorsports. "You never know how it's going to work. That's one of those things we just can't control, and we just hope that things work out good for us."

Here's the latest National Weather Service forecast for this week, as of early Wednesday morning.

National Weather Service forecast for Daytona race week

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday night: A 20% chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

NASCAR schedule for Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

10 a.m.-noon: O'Reilly Series haulers enter Speedway

8-10 a.m.: Cup Series haulers enter Speedway

7:30 p.m.: O'Reilly Series race — Winn-Dixie 250

7:30 p.m.: Cup Series race — Coke Zero Sugar 400

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