BU Marathoncast

 

Meet Connor Lewis! Boulder Underground athlete coached by Matt Hensley AND our Race Meteorologist.


Connor has been a distance runner since he graduated college and happens to be a meteorologist! He was a broadcast meteorologist for seven years and now works for the National Ocean Service. Whether you’re traveling to the race or watching at home, we all know how valuable a forecast can be, so Connor is here to provide guidance on some of the year’s biggest races from a runner’s perspective. 


Upcoming Forecasts

  • Boston Marathon

  • London Marathon

 
 

130th Boston Marathon


Monday April 20th, 2026


Growing up in Southeast Massachusetts, I can tell you that the “April showers bring May flowers” proverb holds very true in Boston. Red Sox games were always a little cheaper in April, because the weather is…iffy! My dad’s birthday is on April 12th. Picture a man from Brockton with a Ben Affleck-style accent lamenting that his birthday wasn’t in the summer. But my dad is a talented landscaper, not a runner. The Boston Marathon is in mid-April, because it has the best weather, on average, for a 26.2-mile run without the risk of snow or a nor’easter. Unlike other majors, I think the Boston Marathon takes place during the most ideal week of the year. With that being said, thunderstorms, torrential rain, freezing wind chills, graupel, and heat/humidity are all on the table. While the average temperatures look perfect, Boston’s weather in April is inconsistent and frankly unpredictable. 


Take a moment to consider that you’re starting inland at 470 feet above sea level and running 26 miles east to the coast. It’ll probably be colder in Hopkinton than Boston in the morning. For this race, I really try to understand how the weather will change from the start to finish line.


Climatology on April 20th


  • Boston Logan International Airport

    • Avg. High: 58

    • Avg. Low: 43

    • Avg. Precipitation: 0.11”

    • Record High: 89

    • Record Low: 34


  • Worcester Regional Airport (~15 miles west of Hopkinton)

    • Avg. High: 58

    • Avg. Low: 38

    • Avg. Precipitation: 0.13”

    • Record High: 83

    • Record Low: 27


Understanding Boston’s climate and this year’s forecast is crucial to having a fun day. Let’s start with the mid-April sun angle that is equivalent to the sun angle in mid-August! There’s probably a logistical reason, but I often wonder why the race doesn’t start an hour earlier due to this factor. Unless the forecast is completely overcast, you MUST consider the extra warming effect of the strong sun on your skin, and yep, wear sunscreen. If the temperature is 50 degrees at noon with light winds, the real-feel temperature is actually 60. On the flip side, the starting temperature for my first Boston Marathon in 2022 was 34 with zero wind and clouds, so I was very comfortable in my normal shorts, singlet, and throwaway hat/gloves. For marathoners in later waves and running 4+ hours, you will spend more time running when the sun is at its strongest, therefore, the cloud coverage is even more important. To further convolute things, the dew point can range from the teens to the 60s. 


When you look back on past races, half the time the weather cooperates, half the time it doesn’t. Personally, this checks out. My other Boston Marathon in 2023 featured thunderstorms for the final 5k and left me soaked and shivering while I waited for my gear bag. Yin and yang, I suppose!


  • “Best” weather of all time

    • 2011 Boston Marathon: Temps near 50, sunny, WNW wind at 20 mph. Persistent tailwind results in a 3-minute course record for men. Remains the men’s course record to this day: 2:03:02 – Geoffrey Mutai (KEN).

       

  • “Worst” weather of all time

    • 1976 Boston Marathon: Record highs, parts of the course reach 90 degrees.

    • 2018 Boston Marathon: Temps in the 40s, torrential rain, NE wind at 20 mph, numerous athletes hospitalized for hypothermia.


I love this race for so many reasons. Besides an epic course and crowd, Patriots’ Day is a celebration like none other. I hope this background information and forecast helps you make a confident and realistic race strategy.


Forecast updated 4.6.26 2:00 PM


La Nina conditions favor slightly warmer than average temperatures in New England, which is reflected in the Climate Prediction Center’s 7 - 14 Day Outlook. 


As I often told viewers when I was a meteorologist in Connecticut, this forecast WILL change!


Prepare for the worst and hope for the best!


Division/Category - Start Time


  • Wheelchair Men - 9:06 a.m.

  • Wheelchair Women - 9:09 a.m.

  • Handcycles/Duos - 9:30 a.m.

  • Professional Men - 9:37 a.m.

  • Professional Women - 9:47 a.m.

  • Para Athletics Division - 9:50 a.m.

  • Wave 1 - 10:00 a.m.

  • Wave 2 - 10:15 a.m.

  • Wave 3 - 10:28 a.m.

  • Wave 4 - 10:41 a.m.

  • Wave 5 - 11:01 a.m.

  • Wave 6 - 11:21 a.m.

 
 

Photos by: Tracy Ann Roeser/ Tracy Ann Creative

Matt Hensley