The race track where they’ll do the Derby today was closed in the morning. Blame lightning in the area and a lot of rain Friday night. This map shows some of the heavy rainfall in Indiana south of Bloomington.
Closing the track this morning prevented any last minute training, but officials are hoping for the best in the afternoon. There’s a 30 percent storm chance, with a muggy high around 85.
KENTUCKY DERBY WEATHER TRIVIA:
Coldest Minimum Temperature: 36 degrees May 4, 1940 and May 4, 1957
Coldest Maximum Temperature: 47 degrees May 4, 1935 and May 4, 1957* (record for the date)
Coldest Average Daily Temperature: 42 degrees May 4, 1957
Warmest Maximum Temperature: 94 degrees May 2, 1959
Warmest Average Daily Temperature: 79 degrees May 14, 1886
Warmest Minimum Temperature: 72 degrees May 14, 1886
Wettest: 2.31″ of rain May 11, 1918
Sleet has been recorded on Derby Day. On May 6, 1989, sleet fell from 1:01pm to 1:05pm EDT (along with rain). Snow then fell the following morning (just flurries).
The record cold temperatures on Derby Day 1957 were accompanied by north winds of 20 to 25mph!
Out of 137 Derby Days, 63 experienced precipitation at some point during the day (46%). Longest stretch of consecutive wet Derby Days (1pm-7pm): 6 (1989 – 1994) Longest stretch of consecutive dry Derby Days: 12(1875 – 1886).