Race day forecast for the 2024 Indy 500: Will there be rain delays? Here's the latest
The week is halfway over and race fans are rounding the final corner to the Big Race. To get ready for the main event, IndyStar is keeping race fans updated with the latest weather forecasts.
Here's what's in the forecast for Indy 500 events, including the big race May 26:
What will weather be like for the Indy 500?
Chances of rain remain likely at 60% for the big race, according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, with thunderstorms throughout the day. Skies will be mostly cloudy with high temperatures hovering in the upper 70s.
The Weather Underground is now calling for a 90% chance of rain with 0.84 inches falling throughout Sunday. Thunderstorms are likely with forecasters calling for temperatures around 74 degrees.
AccuWeather's forecast remains the most optimistic, calling for only a 35% chance of rain. Meteorologists there say race fans will see a couple of showers and thunderstorms, and offer the following warning: "prepare for delays and cancellations of the race."
Everything Indy 500: IndyStar's full coverage for this year's race
Will the Indy 500 be delayed or postponed?
The Indy 500 has had only three complete postponements due to rainy weather since 1915, according to the IMS website.
The last time rain interfered with the big race was in 2007, when drivers were only able to finish 166 laps after having to stop twice from the weather.
Drivers must finish at least 101 laps for the race to be official, according to a 2019 IndyStar article.
Any postponement, either full or partial, will be made up the next day.
Racing weather: Does the Indy 500 run in the rain?
What will weather be like for Carb Day?
Carb Day will see a chance of showers in the morning, then possible thunderstorms between 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., with showers continuing throughout the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of rain is 60%.
The Weather Underground predicts afternoon thunderstorms and the chance of rain on Carb Day to be 40%. Forecasters predict high temperatures around 84 degrees.
AccuWeather puts the probability of rain on Carb Day at 91% with a 55% chance of thunderstorms. Friday's thunderstorms could bring flooding downpours, hail and damaging wind gusts. Temperatures are expected in the lower 80s.
What will weather be like for Legends Day?
Saturday's Legends day has a smaller chance of rain with the National Weather Service calling for 30% probability before 8 a.m. Skies will be mostly sunny throughout the day, with a high near 81 degrees.
Sunshine is the highlight of the Weather Underground forecast for Legends Day, with only a 24% chance of rains. High temps will hit 83 degrees.
AccuWeather is calling for a slightly cooler Saturday than the other meteorologists with highs in the upper 70s and a 25% chance of rain.
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 rain postpone race day? Forecast as of May 22
