dailyloe.com – The 130th Boston Marathon is about a week away with an active spring weather pattern leading up to the event. Forecast models show good agreement on a frontal system sweeping through the region on Sunday. This system is expected to bring scattered showers that should exit before sunrise on Monday. The timing of this front is key for race day conditions.
Cooler, dry air will settle in behind the departing frontal system early Monday. This will wick away moisture from the Greater Boston area. Decreasing clouds are expected throughout the day if the pattern holds. Temperatures are forecast to drop below normal for this time of year.
Eastern Massachusetts could see temperatures five to fifteen degrees below average. This cooler air may actually benefit the runners participating. Race morning temperatures are expected to start in the low 40s. Afternoon highs may only climb into the mid- to upper 40s.
These conditions are on the chilly side for spectators lining the 26.2-mile course. For distance runners, such temperatures are often close to ideal. Last year, morning temperatures edged into the mid-50s after overnight showers. The day later reached a high of 73 degrees under clear, sunny skies.
Winds are also expected to diminish as the weather system pulls away. This could mean fewer headwind concerns for runners in the later miles. A north or northwesterly flow may develop, which could be helpful. Wind speeds are forecast to be under ten miles per hour.
Having the wind at a runner’s back would be more comfortable. The average daily high temperature for the Boston Marathon over the past decade was 58.6 degrees. The average daily low temperature over that same period was 43.2 degrees. The forecast suggests conditions will be cooler than these recent averages.[]
Source: The Boston Globe
