Boston Marathon Weather Forecast: Running Conditions Nearly Ideal
BOSTON (CBS) - Hard to believe that it has been more than 1,000 days since we last had a Boston Marathon in the spring, on Patriots' Day. Perhaps in that absence, some may have forgotten just how hard it is to get an uneventful weather day this time of year! The last two April Boston Marathons have had rain, including a record amount of it back in 2018. The rain wasn't nearly as disruptive in 2019 but combine that with the warm temperatures (the high in Boston was 70) and conditions were far from ideal.
To find "ideal running conditions", and obviously that would vary depending on upon who you ask, you really have to go back to either 2016 or 2014, both were dry, but I bet many would protest that both were a bit warmer than they would like.
Let's face it, whether you are running or not, getting a perfect weather day in Boston in April is tough business. This time of year, our nice weather is sometimes measured in the span of a few hours, not days. Be it rain, wind, cold or even snow, we have seen it all in the 125 prior Boston Marathons.
Having said all that, I think we should get an ideal weather day Monday. What is ideal? A little research shows that most runners prefer temperatures somewhere between 44 and 59 degrees. More specifically, between 49-52 degrees.
I think Monday could fall right in that wheelhouse! Here's the latest.
6 a.m. Monday (sunrise 5:58 a.m.)
Hopkinton:
Sky Conditions - Mainly clear
Temperature - 37-40
Wind - Northwest 4-8 mph
Boston:
Sky Conditions - Mainly clear
Temperature - 40-44
Wind - Northwest 4-8 mph
9 a.m. Monday (Start of wheelchair divisions)
Hopkinton:
Sky Conditions - Mainly clear, some high, wispy cirrus
Temperature - 48-52
Wind - Light and variable, shifting to northeast
Boston:
Sky Conditions - Mainly clear
Temperature - 48-52
Wind - Light and variable, shifting to northeast
Noon Monday (Nearing the finish for elite runners, Red Sox game underway)
Hopkinton:
Sky Conditions - High cirrus clouds streaming in and thickening
Temperature - 53-57
Wind - Southeast 4-8 mph
Boston:
Sky Conditions - High cirrus clouds, still plenty of sunshine
Temperature - 46-50 (cooler due to wind off the ocean)
Wind - Southeast 6-12 mph
3 p.m. Monday (Lots of folks crossing the finish line, Sox game likely over)
Boston:
Sky Conditions - Thickening high cloud deck, sun likely visible but fading
Temperature - 46-50
Wind - Southeast 8-16 mph
You'll notice the classic sea breeze as runners get closer to Boston. Temperatures will be rising for most of the race and then begin to decline for the home stretch, something I don't think most runners will mind at all!
There will definitely be a different feel later in the day with clouds thickening and temperatures dropping with an increasing southeasterly wind. So, for those final finishers late in the afternoon, there will a bit of a chill in the air.
You can watch live coverage of the 126th Boston Marathon on WBZ-TV and CBS Boston.com on Monday, April 18, 2022.
Follow Terry on Twitter @TerryWBZ