AS OF 6:00 P.M. (ET) THURS: Field Being Prepped For 5:30 (CT) First Pitch

[bluepower]

Because of the forecast for rain and thundershower activity in Peoria, Illinois...the first game of the three-game set against the Bradley Braves was in rain delay for more than three hours, with the hope that the first pitch can take place at 5:30 (CT).

The current radar (at 5:00 CT) shows no immediate signs of rain anywhere that would hamper the game this evening.

Here's the forecast for the series from the National Weather Service as of 5:00 p.m. (ET), Thursday:

Late Afternoon: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 69. East southeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tonight: Occasional showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 58. East southeast wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. East wind at 8 mph becoming southwest. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. West wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. West wind at 10 mph becoming south.

 

[bluepower]

The new National Weather Service Forecast is above, as of 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. Meanwhile, weather.com is indicating that Thursday afternoon will bring showers with winds from the southeast at 10-15 mph. High today about 66. The projected radar is indicating showers arriving in Peoria at gametime (2:00 p.m. CT).

 

[bluepower]

Light rain expected to begin in Peoria by 10:00 a.m. (CT). Radar showing a fairly robust mass of preciptation moving to the north out of St. Louis. The projected "future radar" report indicates that a one or two hour rain delay may give way to a break in the rain activity. Stay tuned!

 

[bent20]

Where did this rain come from? Earlier this week they were forecasting dry weather throughout most of the Midwest for the next week.

 

[bluepower]

Folkjs, as of 12:00 Noon (CT), things are not looking promising for a 2:00 p.m. (CT) start for today's game. Looking at the current radar and the future radar models, Peoria is expecting rain and possible thunderstorms throughout the afternoon with perhaps a quarter-inch or more of rain expected. Stay tuned!

The new current forecast in in the first posting of this thread above.

 

[BankShot]

Where did this rain come from? Earlier this week they were forecasting dry weather throughout most of the Midwest for the next week.

Probably influenced by changes in the Gulf water evaporation cycle, influenced by the massive ocean floor oil leak...so much that climatologists & ecologists can't compute on this. Just ask Florida...

 

[bluepower]

AS OF 2:00 (ET): Here's the official word from Bradley University Baseball web site on today's rain delay:

PEORIA, Ill. -- The start of Bradley's Missouri Valley Conference baseball series versus Indiana State is in a holding pattern due to consistent rain in Central Illinois.

The series was originally slated to begin with a 6 p.m. first pitch tonight at O'Brien Field, but with late afternoon rain in the forecast, the teams elected to move the start time to 2 o'clock. That rain has reached Peoria earlier than forecasted, however, and the teams will make every effort to play today when Mother Nature provides a window of opportunity.

Due to the unknown element of when the series will begin, Bradley has elected not to charge admission for Thursday's action.

 

[bluepower]

Here's the official word from gosycamores.com (as of 2:15 ET):

"Due to rainfall during the afternoon in the Peoria area on Thursday, first pitch between Indiana State and Bradley has been delayed. The ISU and BU baseball teams will still attempt to get game one of their series played on Thursday, with the game getting underway as soon as the rain moves out of the Peoria area. At the moment the exact time of first pitch is unknown, but is anticipated to take place between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. CT. Check back to GoSycamores.com for any future updates on Thursday's game between the Sycamores and Braves."

Based upon the current radar and the "future radar" estimates, the 3:00 or 4:00 start is optimistic, especially when you take field prep and warm-ups into account. But, as always, stay tuned. The main thing is to get this game done today!

 

[bluepower]

Here's an update, as of 3:30 (ET) from gosycamores.com:

Due to rainfall during the afternoon in the Peoria area on Thursday, first pitch between Indiana State and Bradley has been delayed. The ISU and BU baseball teams will still attempt to get game one of their series played on Thursday, with the game getting underway as soon as the rain moves out of the Peoria area. At the moment the exact time of first pitch is unknown, but is anticipated to take place between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. CT. Check back to GoSycamores.com for any future updates on Thursday's game between the Sycamores and Braves.

 

[bluepower]

Here is the latest update on today's game as of 5:00 (ET):

"Due to rainfall during the afternoon in the Peoria area on Thursday, first pitch between Indiana State and Bradley has been delayed. The ISU and BU baseball teams will still attempt to get game one of their series played on Thursday, with the game getting underway as soon as the rain moves out of the Peoria area. The teams will meet at O'Brien Field at 4:15 p.m. CT, when the rain is expected to end in the area. When the rain does end, the coaches will assess the field before determining if the games can be played. If the field is ready, first pitch will follow in roughly one hour. Check back to GoSycamores.com for any future updates on Thursday's game between the Sycamores and Braves."

Weatherwise (as of 5:30 ET)...radar is showing that the rain has ended for what looks to be several hours! Now, they have to see if the field is playable. About a half-inch of rain has fallen today in Peoria.

 

[bluepower]

Here's the official word from the Bradley Baseball web site on the fact that the rain delay is ending and the game will hopefully get underway at 5:30 (CT):

PEORIA, Ill. -- Field preparations are currently underway as Bradley and Indiana State look to begin their 3-game Missouri Valley Conference baseball series at O'Brien Field. As the tarp is being pulled from the field, the teams are hoping to begin today's series opener at 5:30 p.m.