What happens if it rains during Flying Pig Weekend? Here's the weather policy
Stormy weather will continue in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky through the start of Flying Pig Marathon Weekend.
The event, which was voted one of the best marathons in the country by USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice awards, will be held in downtown Cincinnati on May 4. Other races and festivities take place all weekend, starting May 2.
What if it rains during Flying Pig Weekend? Does the event have a policy for severe weather threats? Here's what to know.
Showers and thunderstorms will be ongoing through Friday, May 2, with some strong storms still possible. An hourly forecast for May 2 shows the participation potential at 34% at 7 p.m., when the first race of the weekend, the 50 West Mile, is slated to begin. The temperature is also slated to be around 70 degrees at that time.
An unsettled weather pattern is forecast to continue through at least the beginning of the weekend.
A chance of showers will still be in the forecast May 3. Per an hourly forecast for May 3, the precipitation potential will be at 44% at 7 a.m., when the first race, the Toyota 10K, will kick off. The precipitation potential will drop to 38-43% between 1 and 6 p.m. The temperature is also slated to be around 55 degrees at 7 a.m.
May 4 is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 69. The precipitation potential is 21% between 2 and 7 a.m. The temperature will be 47 degrees for the start of the Flying Pig Marathon at 6:30 a.m. and climb to 66 by 2 p.m.
The Flying Pig Marathon is a rain-or-shine event, Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day Communications, told The Enquirer in an email. However, the race officials will closely monitor the weather with local meteorologists and public safety officials.
In the event of severe weather, the Flying Pig races will utilize a color-coded flag system at aid stations to communicate safety alerts to runners, Reau said. In past years, the flag system has been put in place in case of inclement weather, extreme heat or dangerous conditions.
Here's what each flag color means:
Green: Go at your own pace.
Yellow: Proceed with caution.
Red: Slow your pace.
Black: The race is officially canceled.
Participants can receive real-time updates about the race via email, social media and the Pig Works app.
The Flying Pig has never been canceled due to weather. The flag system has been in place every year.
No refunds will be issued in case of a weather cancellation, according to the event's website.
Race officials will closely monitor the weather with local meteorologists, and the event's medical director, Reau said. If there are updates about the race, runners will be alerted via email, social media and through the Pig Works app.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Flying Pig Marathon: What happens if it rains? Everything to know
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