UFC Freedom 250 weather forecast: 100-degree heat, storms expected

Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House South Lawn faces forecasted temperatures of 91 degrees with humidity pushing the feel to triple digits, along with multiple rounds of thunderstorms that could force alterations to the outdoor broadcast, according to MMA Mania.

The National Weather Service projects a 60 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms between 4 and 5 p.m. ET, with additional storm windows expected through the evening and before midnight. Winds could gust up to 22 mph. By nightfall, precipitation odds drop to 40 percent.

How weather threatens the White House fight card

The promotion has stationed a meteorologist on site for real-time updates, per the report. The temporary arena structure known as "The Claw" covers the octagon but leaves much of the venue exposed to the elements. Rain, lightning, or extreme humidity could impact fighter performance and force broadcast delays for the Paramount+ event expected to reach over one billion viewers worldwide.

Earlier in the week, scattered showers hit Washington D.C. during setup. UFC officials have prepared contingency plans, though specifics remain undisclosed. Fighters including Sean O'Malley have said publicly they will adapt to whatever conditions arrive.

The Freedom 250 main card airs live Sunday night on Paramount+, headlined by Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane meet in the co-main event.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Lightning? Humidity? Updated weather report calls for 100-degree heat, multiple thunderstorms for UFC’s outdoor White House event