Boston Marathon Weather Forecast: Is a 2011-Style Tailwind On Tap For Monday?

Update on April 18: We have a new even better final forecast for you that you can read here: Final Boston Marathon Weather Forecast: It should be a great day to run fast 

If you are running or watching the Boston Marathon, you know by now that there is one thing you must do every year before Boston – freak out about the weather.

Weather conditions can make a huge difference in Boston. In Boston on the third Monday in April, it could literally be over 95 degrees (1976) or snowing (last happened in 1967). And you can be pushed to a super-fast time thanks to a big tailwind like in 2011 (2:03:02 winning time) or slowed by a big headwind like in 2007, which produced winning times not seen since the amateur era (2:14:13/2:29:18).

So what’s it looking like for Monday?

The forecast looks good for the runners, although not great for the fans.  It will be one of the coldest Boston Marathons in recent years and there should be a diagonal tailwind helping people run fast.

For the elites, it looks like the race will start at 9:37 a.m. ET with a temperature in the 30s for the only the second time this century. Apple’s weather app is predicting a 39 degrees Fahrenheit at the start and 43 at the finish. The wind during the race will be 9-10 miles out of the NW, gusting to 22 mph, which should help people run faster as the course runs largely west to east as shown here.

However, it will be as much of a crosswind as a tailwind at times as there is a northerly direction to the course as well. It will also be overcast. The amateurs can expect 40 degrees from start to finish.

LRC coaching/stat guru John Kellogg says the temperature would be close to ideal with no wind, but the cross/tailwind benefit might be a little offset by the chilling effect of the wind with temps in the low 40s.

“All things considered, if you’re dressed appropriately and are a good chilly-weather runner, the slight wind assist might boost you by just over a minute in this race. It won’t be anything like the 2011 edition, where runners lucked out with a direct tailwind almost that of the 1980 Mardi Gras Marathon (and a frontrunner in Ryan Hall), but Monday’s wind should be slightly beneficial. Of course, Boston regulars know that you have to train specifically to handle the long downslope at the start, followed by the ups and quad-busting downs later. But it’s equally important to know your capabilities in all kinds of weather conditions, since you might not know what you’ll get in Beantown until a week or two before the race.”

Predicted Starting Conditions in Hopkinton 

Predicted Conditions Halfway in Wellesley

Screenshot

Predicted conditions at finish at Copley Square

Talk about the Boston weather forecast on the world-famous letsrun.com message board/fan forum: Official 2026 Boston Marathon weather forecast discussion thread.

Did you know we often are right on the money with our Boston weather analysis? In 2011, we told you to watch out for potentially spectacular times and that is exactly what happened:  Official John Kellogg Is a Genius Thread (He Predicted The 2:03 on Boston)/

2011: Once In A (Marathon) Lifetime Conditions Forecast For Boston On Monday
2011: JK Babbles About The 2011 Boston Marathon