Boston Marathon weather is coming into sharper focus a week before the 130th race, and the early read is encouraging for runners and sidewalk crowds alike. A fast-moving frontal system is expected to cross the region on Sunday, with scattered showers ending before sunrise Monday. If the pattern holds, cooler, drier air should move in before the Boston Marathon begins Monday morning.
Sunday system could clear out before race time
The forecast now centers on timing. Multiple weather models show a front sweeping through Greater Boston on Sunday, bringing a round of showers that should exit by early Monday. The key question is how quickly that front moves, but the current setup suggests the Boston Marathon will start after the wet weather has passed.
Behind the front, the air mass is expected to dry out and clouds should decrease through the day. That would create a cooler, steadier race-day pattern across the 26. 2-mile course, with less concern about lingering rain during the opening miles or along the finish in Boston.
What runners can expect on Monday
Temperatures are expected to run 5 to 15 degrees below average for Eastern Massachusetts. Early indications point to race-morning readings in the low 40s, with afternoon highs only reaching the mid- to upper 40s. For spectators, that means a chilly day on the sidelines; for distance runners, the Boston Marathon forecast could be close to ideal.
Winds also appear likely to ease as the system moves away. Forecast trends suggest speeds under 10 mph, with a possible north or northwesterly flow. That would reduce headwind concerns in the later miles and could make the course feel more manageable for competitors.
How this lines up with recent marathon weather
The last 10 marathons have averaged a daily high of 61 degrees, with several recent editions pushing above 70, including last year’s high of 73 after morning showers. The coldest marathon day since 2000 came in 2018, when the high reached only 43 degrees. This year’s Boston Marathon forecast looks closer to that colder end of the range than to the warmest recent races.
Rain has also been part of the picture in four of the last 10 marathons, with 2023 the last year the course ran in wet conditions. That history makes the current dry-out timing especially important as race day approaches.
What’s next as race day approaches
The forecast will stay under close watch throughout the week ahead of the Marathon on April 20. The biggest change still possible is in the timing of Sunday’s front, but the latest outlook favors a cleaner start to race morning and a cooler Boston Marathon overall. For now, the Boston Marathon forecast leans toward fewer weather headaches and more comfortable running conditions.
