dailyloe.com – The Boston Marathon is set for a chilly and breezy race day this Monday according to the latest forecast. Showers from a front are expected to clear Eastern Massachusetts before sunrise. The weather pattern leading up to the event has been active with warming temperatures and storms. Guidance now indicates a cool and windy marathon for participants and spectators.
Cool air from Canada will settle in quickly behind Sunday evening’s front. This will wick away moisture from Greater Boston by early Monday morning. Decreasing clouds are expected throughout the day with chilly air. A wind chill may also be present due to breezy conditions.
Temperatures will drop notably below the seasonal norm for Monday. They will be about 10 to 15 degrees below average for the Boston area. Race-morning temperatures could start in the upper 30s or low 40s. Afternoon highs are only forecast to climb into the mid- to upper 40s.
Ken Mahan, known as @kenmahantheweatherman, stated the weather is ideal for runners but chilly for spectators. He described conditions as cool, dry, and breey with temps in the 40s. Mahan noted a slight tailwind could help runners set new personal records. His forecast was shared in a video on social media.
For runners, the cooler air could actually be beneficial. For spectators, the advice is to bundle up against the cold. Last year’s race saw very different conditions with morning temperatures in the mid-50s. The day later reached a high of 73 degrees under clear, sunny skies.
Forecasters are gaining confidence in a brisk westerly flow for race day. This could set up a beneficial tailwind for participants running the course. The winds may not be as strong or perfectly positioned as in 2011. That year featured an ideal southwesterly tailwind.
In 2011, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya set a course record of 2:03:02. Any kind of tailwind can certainly help runners during the marathon. One notable factor will be the wind chill effect on the cool air. Winds may reach 15 to 20 mph across the region.
These winds could make the cooler air feel downright brisk. This will be especially true at the start of the race in Hopkinton. Highs later in the day are only expected to reach the 40s. The overall setup looks chilly for spectators but potentially fast for runners.[]
Source: The Boston Globe
