Soccer weather: is today a good day for a game?

Rates a game of soccer (football), a training session or a kick-around. Soccer goes ahead in most weather, so drizzle hardly counts and light rain costs a couple of points; heat, heavy rain, strong wind and a waterlogged pitch count for more. GoDay scores each hour and finds the best 2-hour window of each day.

What it weighs, most important first

  1. Feels-like temperature
  2. Rain
  3. Wind
  4. Rain in the last 24 hours
  5. Gusts
  6. UV

Also on the page, but not in the score: wind direction.

What holds the score down

A thunderstorm holds the score at 1, and one due within two hours at 3. A feels-like above 36°C (97°F) holds it at 3: many clubs call off junior games in that heat. More than 50 mm of rain in the last day holds it at 3, because councils often close grounds, and rain over 8 mm an hour holds it at 4. Gusts over 75 km/h (47 mph) hold it at 3.

Daylight counts too: once it's dark the score is held at 5.

Questions

Can you play soccer in the rain?

Yes. Drizzle hardly counts and light rain, up to 3 mm an hour, costs a couple of points. Past 8 mm an hour the score is held at 4. After a very wet day the bigger question is the pitch, because councils often close grounds.

How does GoDay know if the pitch is wet?

It adds up the last 24 hours of rain: under 5 mm the ground is likely firm, up to 15 mm soft, up to 35 mm heavy, and past that it may be closed. Check with your club or council before you go.

What about night games and training?

Lots of grounds have lights, so the dark only holds the score at 5. If your pitch has none, check the daylight card, which shows today's sunset.

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