Kentucky Derby 2022: What's the weather outlook?
The weather for the last two runnings of the Kentucky Derby was perfect – if you like warm temperatures and sunny skies. The prior two, not so much.
Derby Day in 2018, in fact, was the wettest on record, with more than three inches of rain.
It looks a little better for this year. The National Weather Service says Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 71 and a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
On Friday, Kentucky Oaks day, the NWS predicts it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 69. Showers are likely, and thunderstorms are possible after 2 p.m. EDT. The chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Friday night also could be rainy, with a 40 percent chance of precipitation.
Meanwhile, here are Derby weather facts from the National Weather Service:
• Coldest temperature: 36 degrees, 1940 and 1957
• Coldest high temperature: 47 degrees, 1935 and 1957
• Coldest average daily temperature: 42 degrees, 1957
(The cold temperatures in 1957 were accompanied by 20 to 25 mph north winds)
• Warmest temperature: 94 degrees, 1959
• Warmest low temperature: 72 degrees, 1886
• Warmest average daily temperature: 79 degrees, May 14, 1886
• Frozen participation was noted once, when sleet was observed for four minutes in the early afternoon of Derby Day 1989