Showers can be expected at times for the remainder of today and on Tuesday, but conditions are set to take a turn for the worse as the first of these potent areas of rain crosses western Japan on Wednesday. Perhaps as much as 50 mm of rain could fall through late afternoon and evening.
Thursday looks like being a much better day at the circuit - in the morning at least - with little or no rainfall, as the first wave sweeps away to the east, with the second starting to move from China towards Japan.
Friday is going to be the critical day in the forecasts this week. The second heavy and sustained period of rain is currently expected to hit Suzuka in the early hours of the morning. Washout conditions are predicted for first and second practice as potentially another 40 mm of rain soaks the circuit.
Once this second prolonged period clears, conditions will improve steadily, but this may not happen until the rain clears in the early hours of Saturday morning. Temperatures will peak at around 22 to 23 degrees Celsius at the weekend, but the concern is obviously the rain threat on Friday and how long it persists.
If Friday turns out to be a wasted day, then they will go into Saturday with just one hour of dry practice time available to them before qualifying.
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