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Kentucky Derby Weather -- A Bit Cloudy, But No Rain
May 7, 2022 at 01:36 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologists
It`s been held in April and even as late as June (during World War II), but the Kentucky Derby we have come to know since the mid-1940s has been run on the first Saturday in May. This can be a volatile time for Louisville`s mid-spring weather.
After a few straight years in the 2010s that produced rain and a sloppy track for the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, the return of the race to early May in 2021 saw the return of sunshine to the racetrack. Medina Spirit won on a fast track on May 1, 2021, the first dry May race since 2015.
Cloudy weather can be expected for today's run. A storm system off the Mid-Atlantic coast will keep plenty of clouds in place, but the rain should be a far distant memory by race time at 6:57 p.m. EDT.
Here is a look at notable weather at past Kentucky Derbys:
It has been cold enough on a Derby Day that sleet fell during the afternoon on May 6, 1989. Also, out of 143 Derbies, 67 have experienced precipitation at some point during the day (about 47 percent).
Oh, by the way... during its long and glorious history, no matter how awful the weather might have been, the Kentucky Derby has never been canceled. Go baby, go!
Image: Mike Smith rides Justify to victory before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2018 , in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/ Kiichiro Sato )
After a few straight years in the 2010s that produced rain and a sloppy track for the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, the return of the race to early May in 2021 saw the return of sunshine to the racetrack. Medina Spirit won on a fast track on May 1, 2021, the first dry May race since 2015.
Cloudy weather can be expected for today's run. A storm system off the Mid-Atlantic coast will keep plenty of clouds in place, but the rain should be a far distant memory by race time at 6:57 p.m. EDT.
Here is a look at notable weather at past Kentucky Derbys:
- The coldest Derby Day: 36 degrees back in 1940 and 1957.
- The hottest Derby: 94 degrees in 1959
- The wettest: 3.15 inches of rain in 2018
- The longest stretch of consecutive dry Derby Days: 12. From 1875-1886.
- The longest stretch of consecutive wet Derby Days: 7 (2007-2013)
It has been cold enough on a Derby Day that sleet fell during the afternoon on May 6, 1989. Also, out of 143 Derbies, 67 have experienced precipitation at some point during the day (about 47 percent).
Oh, by the way... during its long and glorious history, no matter how awful the weather might have been, the Kentucky Derby has never been canceled. Go baby, go!
Image: Mike Smith rides Justify to victory before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 5, 2018 , in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/ Kiichiro Sato )