The weather forecast is looking up for the Aronimink PGA Championship, if not for local gardeners
The only hazard would be an outside shot at a thunderstorm Sunday afternoon.
While the dry trend isn’t universally welcome, it appears that the golfers and spectators at Aronimink Golf Club for the PGA Championship are going to benefit from the region’s recent aversion to rain.
“Things are looking very good for the entirety of the event,” said Bobby Martrich, meteorologist with EPAWA Weather Consulting, whose clients include the Phillies.
Rain spared the practice rounds on a windy Wednesday. Showers were due Wednesday night, but the course was unlikely to get a disruptive soaking before Thursday’s match play begins, as once again the rain totals are expected to be considerably less than forecasts had suggested earlier in the week.
That backing off on rain totals has been a common occurrence during the last several weeks, said Patrick O’Hara, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly. Philadelphia’s precipitation the last 60 days has been less than half of normal, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center.
“When they forecast rain five days away, it’s going to rain an inch,” said Andrew Frankenfield, agronomist with the Penn State Montgomery County extension. “Then you get closer to the rain event and it becomes a half an inch, then a quarter, and after the rain’s over we had only a tenth or two.”
And for the next several days, the outlook for Aronimink and vicinity is looking better for golfers and their fans than for home gardeners. No rain is in the forecast at least through Saturday, coinciding with a significant warmup that could be followed by 90-degree temperatures next week.
The outlook Thursday through Sunday for Aronimink and vicinity
Any lingering showers should shut off by the time golfers tee off Thursday morning, said John Feerick, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.
By then, maybe a tenth of an inch will have fallen, said Eric Hoeflich, a weather service meteorologist.
If anything, that amount “might soften things up a little bit,” said Feerick. Highs should be in the 60s, several degrees below normal, and rebound to the low 70s on Friday.
Winds will be brisk both days, he said, with gusts to 20 mph, and that would help evaporate the moisture. The dryness actually “could make it a little bit rough for the golfers,” said Feerick, a golf enthusiast. “The greens could be really, really fast.”
On Saturday, readings are due to climb to 80 degrees or better under a bright May sun, and well into the 80s on Sunday.
Sunday is expected to remain dry; however, some of the computer guidance was suggesting an outside shot at a thunderstorm during the afternoon.
“I can’t totally rule out a thunderstorm popping up Sunday,” Feerick said. “That would be the best opportunity for something to impact the tournament.”
A return to 90 next week?
The warming trend is due top pick up steam after the golfers leave town, with shots at hitting 90 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday, Hoeflich said. (At least in this case it won’t be followed by a damaging freeze, like last month’s hot shot.)
Dry ground can promote heating in that it allows more of the sun’s energy to cook the surface instead of using it to evaporate water.
Soil moisture levels have been decreasing, and as of Tuesday they were about half of normal, or even drier, in the region, according to the government’s Climate Prediction Center.
New Jersey remains in a drought emergency, and Chester County is under a drought warning. However, overall the region’s foliage, including the grasses, haven’t been showing signs of stress.
Frankenfield said that’s likely due in part to the fact that temperatures this month have been slightly below normal, inhibiting the drying out process.
Said Hoeflich, “My lawn is growing in pretty well.”
Stay tuned.
The 108th PGA Championship returns to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square for the first time in over six decades.
You can watch Marcus Hayes and Jeff Neiburg preview the tournament on Gameday Central from Aronimink, and be sure to check out the PGA Championship Range Show from 12-2 p.m daily, starting Wednesday.
Whether you're going, watching from home, or just curious about what all the fuss is about, we've got you covered with our PGA guide and stories on everything from Aronimink's history and design, to what the players have to say about returning to the Philly area. We even made a golf video game so you can play the course and learn its secrets.
Get it all with our full PGA Championship preview. And follow the latest news and action from the course, right here.
