9th Hottest Indy 500!

Sunshine and hot temps ruled Race Day 2011. Photo courtesy WTHR's facebook page.

After so much rain in recent days, including storms last night, Race Day weather brought a quick turn-around. Sunshine and upper 80s made for a very summer-like day at the Speedway! The official high reached 88 degrees, tying for 9th warmest in the 100-year history of the race. Here are the “top 10 hottest” Race Days, courtesy of the National Weather Service in Indy:
(1) 92 in 1937
(2) 91 in 1953
(2-tie) 91 in 1919
(4) 90 in 1978
(4-tie) 90 in 1977
(6) 89 in 2010 *
(6-tie) 89 in 2006 *
(6-tie) 89 in 1929
(9) 88 in 2011 *
(9-tie) 88 in 1934

*3 of the hottest Indy 500 race days have been in the last 6 years!

Want more race facts and figures? You can find all kinds of fun weather-related Indy 500 stats right here: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ind/print_localdata.php?loc=txtdat&data=Indy500.txt

Now we could be looking at near-record heat for Memorial Day Monday. I’m forecasting a high of 92. The record is 94 set in 1895.

Thanks for reading!
-Meteorologist Chikage Windler