The dry ground caused by drought conditions can soak up plenty of rain, especially because the precipitation should fall steadily throughout the weekend and not in one big storm, Simpson said. The weather is not expected to produce winds at more than 20 to 30 miles per hour or significant storms, he said. The heaviest accumulation is expected to the north.
“It will be more like a spring system, with the rain drawn out,” Simpson said.
That’s little comfort to organizers of some events that plan throughout the year for Labor Day weekend. Organizers said they are most prepared to make changes in aspects involving electrical equipment, such as musical performances during Kettering’s Holiday at Home.
Other aspects of the Holiday at Home event, such as the 5K Run and Monday parade, can operate through even a steady rain in absence of thunder or lightning.
“Because we know something is coming, we can be more in-tune with what’s going on,” said Jamie Jarosik, an event spokesperson and member of the Holiday at Home Committee. “That’s where technology is so helpful, because you can monitor weather on your cell phone and use social media to send out updates.”
The same can’t be said for Springfield’s Fair at New Boston, a living history event that tells participants they can “have fun in 1812,” spokesperson Pam Cottrel said. Organizers will monitor weather using laptops stationed outside the event area, but participants will operate without luxuries that did not exist in the early 19th century.
That includes umbrellas from the era, which are more of a paper wax. Cottrel said organizers have been preparing severe weather scenarios throughout the year, since a storm during last year’s event overturned tents and caused a delayed opening on Sunday. The two-day event begins Saturday.
“Our policy is rain or shine, and we’ll be open,” Cottrel said. “(Last year) we had such a rough time getting the tents back up, because they’re canvas tents from 200 years ago, but we only had a small delay.”
Elsewhere in the area, more than 20,000 people are expected as participants, spectators or officials for the Mead CUSA Cup soccer tournament, set to play Saturday through Monday in Beavercreek, Centerville and West Carrollton. Brett Thompson, executive director of the host Centerville United Soccer Association, said games can continue through all levels of rain without thunder, lightning or standing water that could threaten participants.
“(Site managers) have told me it would take an enormous amount of rain for them to close their fields,” Thompson said. “Basically, an inch or inch-and-a-half of the ground is damp, and below that it’s crusty and dry. I think the ground can soak up a lot.”
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