The historic Boston Marathon is held annually on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April. This year, the 130th edition of the race falls on Apr. 20. April can bring a wide range of weather conditions to Massachusetts, and over the past 129 years, athletes have traversed the course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street through all of them.
Average April Weather in Boston
The average precipitation for the month in Boston is 3.63 inches and the month’s average snowfall is 1.6 inches.
On April 20, the average high temperature in Boston is 58 degrees and the low is 43 degrees.
Boston Marathon’s History of Weather Extremes
From wintry precipitation to midsummer heat, the Boston Marathon has persevered through almost every kind of weather that strikes New England.
Snowflakes fell on the athletes at least five times in the history of the race, in 1907, 1908, 1925, 1961 and 1967. Driving rain soaked the course in 1970, 2007, 2015 and 2018.
More frequently, participants have had to persevere through unseasonable warmth. Among the most extreme examples of heat were 1905, when the temperature reached 100 degrees; 1976, when much of the course reached 96 degrees; and 2004, when a record number of heat-related illnesses were reported on an 86-degree day.
Looking Ahead to Race Day
As the date of this year’s Boston Marathon approaches, StormTeam 5 will fill this page with information.
StormTeam 5’s 7-day forecast looks ahead at the next week of weather in the Greater Boston area.
More Boston Marathon weather history is available.