Race fans are only a few days away from the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, and weather predictions for the skies above this year’s running of the Indy 500 are getting cautiously optimistic.
The dreary forecasts from earlier this week have been tempered with slightly more sunshine and calls for rain have been pushed further back in the afternoon.
IndyStar is helping race fans prepare their outfits and accessories for the spectacle by publishing daily updates as race day draws near.
IndyStar’s historic weather analysis (provided below) shows that it’s rained only once on May 24 since 2006 and the average temperature for the past 20 years has been in the upper 60s. That said, multiple current forecasts call for some precipitation this year on Sunday, May 24.
What will weather be like for the Indy 500?
The National Weather Service on Thursday is predicting a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms for Sunday’s race. The service’s forecast shows rains are likely to hold off until around 2 p.m. Skies will be partly sunny (a more optimistic outlook than previous forecasts) with temperatures nearing a high of 80 degrees.
AccuWeather’s forecast shows a 65% chance of rain totaling about 3.5 hours throughout the day. The high temperature will be in the upper 70s with humidity and other conditions making it feel more like the mid 80s.
The Weather Underground is predicting the least chance of rain with a 30% possibility the skies will open over the Big Race. Isolated thunderstorms are expected to begin in the afternoon, and the group’s hour-by-hour forecast for Sunday shows rains will hold off until 5 p.m. Temperatures will reach a high of around 75 degrees.
What is the weather forecast for Memorial Day if there’s a delay?
The National Weather Service is predicting a 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms for Memorial Day with mostly cloudy skies and a high around 80 degrees. Storms aren’t likely to roll in until the early afternoon.
What will weather be like for Legends Day?
This year’s Indy 500 Legends Day takes place Saturday, May 23, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The National Weather Service forecast predicts a 40% chance of rain before skies begin to clear in the early afternoon. Temperatures will be warm with highs nearing 77 degrees.
What will weather be like for Carb Day?
This year’s Indy 500 Carb Day is on Friday, May 22. The day-long party includes the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 and the Pit Stop Competition.
The National Weather Service forecast gives a 60% chance of rain Friday with potential thunderstorms around 2 p.m. Rainfall totals could be between a quarter and half an inch. Temperatures will be in the low 70s.
Indy 500 weather history
IndyStar analyzed 20 years of historic data from Weather Underground for May 24, this year’s Race Day.
Daily temperatures averaged in the high 60s and it has rained only one day out of the last 20 since 2006. Precipitation totals on rainy days were light, with the highest on record at only one-tenth of an inch.
On previous race days, temperatures varied wildly from a high of 92 degrees in 1937 and a low of 37 degrees in 1947, according to the National Weather Service.
The most rain fell on May 30, 2004, when Race Day was inundated with nearly 4 inches of precipitation. The race eventually ran but was cut short due to a tornado in the area.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk
IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 weather forecasts are looking better. Here’s what they say
Reporting by Karl Schneider, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
