It has been a wet week, but the weather is looking much better for Oaks and Derby.
A front will be sinking to the south on Friday. Along it, there will be a few lingering clouds, but those will break up during the afternoon with an increase in sunshine.
There is a slim chance of a shower, mainly south of Louisville. High temperatures will top out into the lower 80s.
Expect nothing but sunshine and low humidity levels. The weather doesn't look like it could be any better for horse racing.
The track conditions look fast as there will be plenty of time for the mud to dry out from the recent heavy rain.
High temperatures will top out in the lower to middle 80s. The average high temperature for early September is in the mid-80s.
Coldest temperature: 36° on May 4, 1940 and May 4, 1957
Coldest high temperature: 47° on May 4, 1935 and May 4, 1957
Coldest average daily temperature: 42° on May 4, 1957
(The cold temperatures on May 4, 1957 were accompanied by 20 to 25 mph north winds!)
Warmest temperature: 94° on May 2, 1959
Warmest low temperature: 72° on May 14, 1886
Warmest average daily temperature: 79° on May 14, 1886
Wettest: 3.15" of rain on May 5, 2018
Frozen precipitation: On May 6, 1989 sleet was observed from 1:01 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.
Out of the 144 Derby Days, 68 (47%) experienced rain at some point during the day.
Courtesy of the National Weather Service
The 2020 Derby marks the first time it has been changed outside its regular May schedule since the 1945 edition was affected by World War II.