How far does a ball carry at PNC Park?
PNC Park is the Pittsburgh Pirates home park in Pittsburgh: an open-air park at 780 ft, 399′ to center. Below is what moves fly balls here — elevation, temperature, humidity and wind — plus the current wind for the next game. Carry distances are model estimates and part of the Groundskeeper plan.
Next game conditions
No game at PNC Park on the current slate. Today's wind for every park that is playing is on the wind carry today page.
Carry estimate
The carry range is The Cold Line's model estimate of how much today's wind and temperature add to or take away from a fly ball to center. Already a Groundskeeper member? Open the live weather board.
PNC Park park facts
- Elevation
- 780 ft above sea level (6th highest of 30 MLB parks)
- Roof
- Open-air
- Center-field bearing
- 116° — home plate faces east-southeast
- Fences (LF · LCF · CF · RCF · RF)
- 325′ · 389′ · 399′ · 395′ · 320′
- Wall heights (LF · CF · RF)
- 6′ · 10′ · 21′
- Surface
- Natural grass
Park notes: 21ft RF Clemente Wall; Roberto Clemente Bridge beyond CF; Pittsburgh skyline backdrop; Allegheny River behind RF wall.
What moves the ball at PNC Park
Elevation
PNC Park is at 780 ft (6th of 30 by elevation). Elevation has only a slight effect at this height; day-to-day changes in temperature and wind matter more.
Temperature
Warm air is less dense than cold air, so a hot night at PNC Park carries better than a cold one with the same wind. Early-season and late-season night games here play noticeably heavier than mid-summer afternoons.
Humidity
Humid air is slightly lighter than dry air, so higher humidity helps carry a little — the opposite of what most people expect. It is a minor factor next to temperature and wind.
Wind
Home plate faces east-southeast, so a wind out of the west-northwest blows straight out to center and helps carry, while a wind from the east-southeast blows in and knocks fly balls down. Cross-winds push the ball toward one line — at PNC Park the shorter right-field corner (320′) is where a helping wind shows up first.
PNC Park carry questions
How far does a ball carry at PNC Park?
PNC Park is at 780 ft (6th of 30 by elevation). Elevation has only a slight effect at this height; day-to-day changes in temperature and wind matter more. The Cold Line's game-by-game carry estimate (a model estimate, in feet) is part of the Groundskeeper plan.
Does wind affect home runs at PNC Park?
Home plate faces east-southeast, so a wind out of the west-northwest blows straight out to center and helps carry, while a wind from the east-southeast blows in and knocks fly balls down. Cross-winds push the ball toward one line — at PNC Park the shorter right-field corner (320′) is where a helping wind shows up first.
Does PNC Park have a roof?
No. PNC Park is open-air, so wind, temperature and humidity are in play every game.
Where can I see today's wind at PNC Park?
This page shows the current wind for the next game at PNC Park. The Cold Line's live MLB weather board tracks wind, roof status and conditions for every park on the slate, and Groundskeeper members see the full carry card there.
More: Pittsburgh Pirates weather · All MLB ballpark weather · MLB wind carry today