Key Highlights
- The weather disrupted parts of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
- Memorial Day weekend will see wet and cool conditions in the eastern half of the nation.
- New York City officials prepared for potential flooding due to recent flash floods.
- Rainy Memorial Day is expected to cause some flight delays at Chicago airports.
The Wet Weather Showdown: Indianapolis 500 in Peril?
Weather gods, you can’t make this stuff up. As the Indianapolis 500 kicked off its 110th running on Sunday, a thunderstorm briefly interrupted the race just as it got underway. Talk about starting with a bang—or should I say, a downpour?
The Race Against the Clock
At around 12:45 p.m., the Indianapolis Motor Speedway experienced a brief suspension due to a thunderstorm on lap 106. The National Weather Service office in Indianapolis is forecasting a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms throughout the afternoon, casting a gloomy shadow over what was supposed to be a sunny celebration.
Memorial Day’s Wet Blanket
Moving beyond Indy, Memorial Day weekend brings mixed blessings. While some areas, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest, will see an improvement from wet and cool conditions, others are facing a downpour that could last through the holiday. Flood watches have been issued for several major cities including Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, New Orleans, Knoxville, and Charleston.
And you might think this is new, but… it’s not always smooth sailing come Memorial Day.
The rainy weather is causing some flight delays on Sunday at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Arriving flights were experiencing average 44-minute delays, while departures faced up to one hour and 45 minutes of delay. So, if you’re planning a getaway or heading home, pack your umbrella—better safe than sorry.
New York City’s Storm Watch
City officials in New York aren’t taking any chances. After recent flash flooding in the city on May 23, 2026, they’ve implemented new measures to prepare for potential impacts from Memorial Day storms. Highs will be in the 80s from Chicago to Minneapolis, but post-holiday temperatures are expected to drop significantly, with highs going from the 70s and 80s down into the 60s by Tuesday and Wednesday.
So there you have it: a weather front that’s as unpredictable as the race itself.
The key is to stay informed, pack accordingly, and maybe enjoy some indoor activities instead of battling the elements. After all, even a rain-soaked Memorial Day isn’t always a total washout.
