Donald Trump’s planned UFC Freedom 250 event outside the White House may have a major problem before the first fight even begins: the weather.
The fight card is scheduled for June 14 at 8 p.m. ET in a temporary venue built on the White House South Lawn. About 4,000 people are expected to attend in person, while roughly 85,000 more are expected to watch on large screens at the Ellipse, a national park across the street from the White House.
The setup already has the scale of a spectacle. Now, forecasters say thunderstorms could make the night far more complicated.
Thunderstorms Could Hit Fight Night
Jennifer Gray of the Weather Channel told USA TODAY Sports that forecasting the storm risk is still uncertain, but she did not rule out a rough evening.
“It’s like a flip of a coin at this point. Or maybe 40 percent,” Gray said.
She said storms are expected to remain in place across the East from around Wednesday into Thursday and could continue every day through at least Saturday night.
“And I don’t see anything that would really stop that from happening on Sunday,” Gray added.
Gray said the forecast should become clearer by the middle of next week. For now, though, she could not promise a clean night for the White House fight card.
“As of right now, I couldn’t promise you clear skies and comfortable temperatures for Sunday because I’m just not super confident that that’s how it’s going to play out,” she said.
Thousands Could Need Shelter If Storms Turn Dangerous
The temporary arena on the South Lawn will reportedly be topped by a canopy. That may help with light rain, but thunderstorms create a different concern.
Gray said organizers should have a shelter plan ready for the thousands of people expected at the event.
“Hopefully they’ll have a plan to get them to shelter if need be, because we do know that these thunderstorms can turn dangerous very quickly,” she said.
The risk may not be enough to cancel anything yet, but it does create an uncomfortable image for an event designed to project power, celebration, and patriotic showmanship.
A stormy White House fight night would be hard to ignore.
AccuWeather Gives A More Cautious Forecast
Not every forecaster is sounding the same alarm.
Alex DaSilva of AccuWeather said the current forecast for June 14 in Washington, D.C., is “dry.” Still, he said there is a 20% to 30% chance of rain.
“The forecast models that I’m looking at this very moment show that D.C. is clear on Sunday,” DaSilva said. “But considering how we’ve been hot and stormy and the heat’s been fueling these summertime storms, can’t rule it out either.”
DaSilva added that he does not expect the event to be completely washed out.
“It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a washout or anything like that,” he said. “But there definitely is that risk of an afternoon thunderstorm coming by.”
Gray also said temperatures likely will not reach the mid-90s when the fights begin, but the night could still feel sticky and humid.
That leaves Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 event in an awkward position. The fight card may still go ahead as planned, but the forecast has already created another storyline.
For a White House event built like a major political and sports spectacle, even a thunderstorm risk is enough to turn the spotlight in the wrong direction.
