Rally Japan 2026: Full WRC weekend weather forecast
27th May 2026The World Rally Championship heads to Rally Japan this weekend as the weather is expected to be a wet start for the teams and crews before turning hot and sunny.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Following a spell in Europe, the WRC heads eastwards for the iconic Rally Japan before returning west once more. And conditions are set to be similar to those of last year’s edition.
Last season, although the Japanese event was held later in the year, conditions started dry and later turned wet on the final day of the weekend. However, this weekend, it will be the reverse.
It is expected to be a wet start on Thursday for the sole shakedown test, before the main event gets underway in dry and sunny conditions from Friday to Sunday.
So, according to the weather-watchers at AccuWeather, what are the expected forecasts at Rally Japan?
Thursday – May 28, 2026
The shakedown test will be the only sort of running in Japan on Thursday morning, getting underway at 08:01 local time [00:01 BST]. However, it is expected to be a wet start for the crews.
Conditions are set to be cloudy and humid, with occasional rain and drizzle in the morning. These showers will continue in the afternoon in spots.
Temperatures will be as high as 28°, with lows of 21°. The chance of rain holds firm at 85%.
Friday – May 29, 2026
Friday, the first official day of Rally Japan, will be completely different from the day before as it is forecast to be a dry day, with sunny conditions expected. The chance of rain plummets to 0%.
Temperatures are predicted to increase to 30° with lows of 14°.
Saturday – May 30, 2026
The second day of the weekend, and the longest in terms of stages ran, is expected to continue on from Friday with sunny and warm conditions forecast. The chance of rain remains at 0%.
Temperatures will bump up slightly to 31° with lows of 15°.
Sunday – May 31, 2026
Conditions are expected to be at their hottest on Sunday with sunny conditions forecast. Accuweather has warned of a ‘possible danger of dehydration and heatstroke during strenuous activities.’
Temperatures are forecast to be their highest all weekend, with highs of 34° and lows of 17°. Rain is expected to stay away from the event, with a 0% chance of precipitation.
Read more WRC here:
- WRC 2026 Rally Japan: The full WRC stage guide and times
- WRC 2026 Rally Japan: full Rally1 entry list
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
