Race day forecast for the 2024 Indy 500: Will it rain? Here's the latest
The big race is less than a week away and to get ready for the main event, IndyStar is keeping race fans updated with the latest weather forecasts.
The last official practice runs today from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and The National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies with a high near 88 degrees.
Here's what's in the forecast for other Indy 500 events and the big race May 26:
What will weather be like for the Indy 500?
Forecasts are still limited for Sunday's big race, but The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is calling for a 50% chance of rain with temperatures near 82 degrees.
The Weather Underground also shows coin-flip odds of rain with a 49% chance the skies open up and a chance for scattered thunderstorms. Temperatures are predicted to be warm around 82 degrees.
The AccuWeather forecast is a bit more optimistic with a 30% chance of rain and a littler cooler at 80 degrees.
Everything Indy 500: IndyStar's full coverage for this year's race
What will weather be like for Carb Day?
Friday is Carb Day at the track, and gates are open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. The National Weather Service forecast shows mostly sunny skies until the afternoon when meteorologists predict scattered thunderstorms. Highs will hit around 77 degrees.
The Weather Underground give Carb Day about a 50% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms in the morning with temperatures in the mid- to high-70s.
AccuWeather's forecast shows only a 25% chance of rain with temperatures spiking in the mid-70s.
What will weather be like for Legends Day?
Legends Day is on Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and The National Weather Service shows a 50% chance of rain during the day with temperatures reaching 80 degrees.
Forecasters and The Weather Underground predict rain in the morning with scattered thunderstorms beginning in the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to stay in the high 70s throughout the morning and hit 80 by the afternoon.
The AccuWeather forecast is calling for a 60% chance of rain and scattered storms during the day with highs around 77 degrees.
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Indy 500 weather history
IndyStar analyzed 20 years of historic data from Weather Underground for May 26, this year's Race Day.
Daily temperatures averaged in the high 60s and it rained only 5 days out of the last 20 since 2004. Precipitation totals on rainy days were light, with the highest on record at only one-tenth of an inch.
On previous race days not always falling on May 26, temperatures varied wildly from a high of 92 degrees in 1937 and a low at 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.
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: Will it rain on race day? Forecast as of May 20
