Boston Marathon looks chilly
Forecasts call for a brisk, cooler-than-normal Boston Marathon Monday — temperatures 10–15°F below mid‑April norms — a pattern described as ‘good for running, less good for cheering.’ (WBUR and the Boston Globe published the cooler‑than‑normal forecasts on April 15.) (wbur.org)(bostonglobe.com)
Boston Marathon runners are likely to get a cold, breezy Patriots’ Day, with Monday’s forecast running well below Boston’s usual mid-April temperatures. (wbur.org) WBUR reported on April 15 that local forecasts pointed to temperatures about 10 to 15 degrees below normal for Marathon Monday, after a stretch of much warmer weather in Greater Boston. The race is set for Monday, April 20, the 130th Boston Marathon. (wbur.org) (baa.org) The Boston Globe reported that forecast guidance was holding steady for showers to clear eastern Massachusetts before sunrise Monday, leaving a cooler and drier day for the race itself. Boston.com, citing the National Weather Service, separately described an early outlook of mostly sunny skies and a high near 49 degrees. (bostonglobe.com) (boston.com) That setup usually helps people running 26.2 miles more than people standing on sidewalks for hours. WBUR said the pattern looked “good for running, less good for cheering,” with breezy conditions likely to make spectators feel colder than the thermometer suggests. (wbur.org) The contrast is sharp because Boston had just come off several unusually warm April days before the forecast turned. WCVB noted that Boston’s average high for April 20 is 58 degrees, compared with the much cooler conditions now in the outlook. (wcvb.com) The weather matters beyond comfort because the Boston Marathon draws a field the size of a small city. Boston.com reported that about 30,000 participants from more than 130 countries and all 50 states are expected on the course from Hopkinton to Copley Square. (boston.com) Cold Marathon Mondays are not unheard of in Boston, but they stand out because the race is tied to Patriots’ Day in April, when New England weather can swing from summerlike heat to raw wind and rain within days. The Boston Athletic Association said this year’s running again falls on the third Monday in April, as tradition dictates. (baa.org) (usatoday.com) If the forecast holds through the weekend, runners may get the kind of cool course they often hope for, while families and fans along the route will need layers, hats, and patience. (wbur.org)
