Here’s the latest from Kentucky meteorologists on the Derby Day forecast

Rain looks likely during Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, according to Kentucky meteorologists.

WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey said following a break in rain Friday night into Saturday morning, “a large period of heavy rain and some thunder takes over, making for a very wet Derby Day and evening.”

He added that there could be some high water issues in the area.

More than an inch of rain fell Friday morning in Louisville, according to the National Weather Service. With more rain expected Saturday, a messy Derby seems likely.

Weather models showed a system that was in Oklahoma and Texas earlier in the week will move into the Louisville area Saturday morning and bring thunderstorms throughout the morning and afternoon before tapering off, the weather service said.

That system may speed up and lessen the chance for rain Saturday morning, but weather service meteorologists still encouraged Derby-goers to bring ponchos.

Umbrellas are not allowed at Churchill Downs.

Temperatures may not get out of the 60s Saturday, according to Bailey. The weather service predicted a high of 70.

It has rained on Derby Day three straight years, including 2018’s 3-inch record total, according to weather service data. Except for years with just trace amounts of rain, it has not rained on four straight Derby Days since 1991-1994.

The coldest Kentucky Derby temperature was 36 degrees set in 1940 and 1957, while the warmest was the 94-degree day in 1959.

This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 7:57 PM.