Kentucky Derby weather update: Rain might stay away from Churchill Downs

Aside from wondering which horse will win the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, one of the biggest questions for horse racing fans and bettors is: What’s the weather going to be like? Will it be a dry and sunny Derby or a super muddy one à la 2018?

Well, it might be somewhere in the middle. Although the weather report for Louisville, where Churchill Downs is located, from earlier this week called for a 60 percent chance of rain on Saturday with thunderstorms possibly in the mix, the forecast is a little more hopeful now.

According to The Weather Channel as of early Friday afternoon, Saturday’s forecast for the day in Louisville is:

Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

The National Weather Service also noted “scattered sprinkles” throughout the day.

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And then Saturday night, via The Weather Channel:

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

The 2023 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 6:57 p.m. ET on Saturday, and The Weather Channel’s prediction for that time frame is 77 degrees with no more than a six percent chance of rain and about 10-mile an hour winds.