Churchill Downs weather: So happy the Kentucky Derby ‘May’ finally have a dry track this year
By Kim Adams
Published on April 30, 2026.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is set to take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville on May 2, 2026. The National Weather Service has noted that the coldest Derby morning temperature was 36°F in 1940 and 1957, while the hottest day was 94°F on 1959. The wettest Derby was in 2018, when 3.15 inches of rain fell in Louisville. For the 2026 forecast, fans should expect a cooler-than-average spring day. The weather is expected to be mostly sunny, with temperatures likely to be in the mid-50s.
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