Race day forecast for the 2024 Indy 500: Will it rain? Here’s the latest

It’s Fast Friday and drivers are turning up the heat on the track. To get ready for the main event, IndyStar is keeping race fans updated with the latest weather forecasts.

Friday’s practice runs from noon-6 p.m., with the qualifying draw starting at 6:15 p.m. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is predicting about a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms throughout the day. It’ll be overcast with highs near 77.

Qualifying rounds on Saturday and Sunday will see temperatures reach into the 80s with rain likely on Saturday but clear skies Sunday.

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?

It’s more than a week way, so forecasts are mixed for Race Day. Weather Underground is predicting showers that may cloud some festivities in the morning, but the green flag isn’t waved until 12:45 p.m. The company is predicting high temperatures around 76 with low temperatures around 61.

The AccuWeather forecast shows mostly sunny skies with humidity. The meteorologists there predict highs near 78 and lows around 62.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has not yet posted info for May 26.

Everything Indy 500: IndyStar’s full coverage for this year’s race

What will weather be like for Carb Day?

Carb Day on Friday, May 24, may see some showers, according to the Weather Underground. Gates at the track are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and forecasters predict about a quarter-inch of rain throughout the day. The company is calling for temperatures around a high of 75 degrees and low of 61 degrees.

AccuWeather is forecasting morning thunderstorms with rain and more storms in the afternoon. Weather forecasters are calling for nearly an inch of rain throughout Carb Day with temperatures in the low 70s.

The AccuWeather forecast shows mostly sunny skies with humidity. The meteorologists there predict highs near 78 and lows around 62.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has not yet posted info for May 24.

What will weather be like for Legends Day?

Scattered thunderstorms could drop some rain during Legends Day on Saturday, May 25, according to the Weather Underground. Gates are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The company is predicting highs at 73 degrees with lows potentially dropping to 53.

AccuWeather’s forecast is more optimistic for Legends Day with cloudy skies at times but no thunder or rain. The company forecasts temperatures right around 71 degrees.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has not yet posted info for May 25.

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.