For me, growing up in the Berkshires, I used the Patriots’ Day Holiday Weekend as the first weekend of spring as we were usually beyond the point of cold and snow. This year looks no different with sunshine expected all three days and absolutely no shot of snow in the forecast. Solid.
The only forecast challenge for the holiday weekend will be temperature forecasts. High Pressure is obvi with us but the location of the blue H will still encourage a northeast flow from the Gulf of Maine. That is a cool wind direction this (and any) time of year and we have that tomorrow so look for coastal cities & towns once again struggle to reach 50 by afternoon despite abundant sunshine. Farther inland, the temps will flirt with 60. Sunday offers more sun and that northeast wind is a little weaker so coastal towns should reach the low 50s while inland locales head into the low 60s.
Marathon Monday. Thankfully, it’s nothing like last year (rain, wind, temps in the 40s) and while it does look warm, it’s not 2012 warm when temps reached the upper 80s. What I do see is something like this:
* Sunshine for much of the day
* Dry air…..no humidity at all.
* Temps in Hopkinton are near 40 early in the morning then rising quickly through the 50s by start time.
* Temps do turn warm about the time most runners hit Wellesley–reaching the upper 60s/low 70s.
* When you hit Boston, a sea breeze should be there….temps for the elite (12pm) will be in the low-mid 60s, then by 3-4pm the temps should get knocked back into the low & mid 50s thanks to that sea breeze.
* Wind is a non-factor until you encounter that sea breeze… once you do, plan on a head wind around 5-12mph.
In any event—have fun, pace yourself…and feed off the energy of the day.
Have a great weekend!
~JR
PS…..oh….our next chance of any rain isn’t until Tuesday–scattered showers.