Boston Marathon 2017 weather forecast: A tailwind could assist runners

It was snowing just a couple of days ago in Boston, but for the 2017 Boston Marathon, heat could be a concern if it reaches the projected high of around 80 degrees. Of course, temperatures could fluctuate from the mid-50s up to the mid-60s during the race, according to AccuWeather.

The 121st iteration of the Boston Marathon is set for Monday and will feature some of the best distance runners in the world. The weather is looking like it won’t be much of a concern, and a nice tailwind could contribute to potential record-breaking on the day.

Conditions will be dry with west-to-northwest winds averaging 15-25 miles per hour, and gusts of 30 miles per hour will generally be at the runners’ backs. There will be points in the course where the wind is coming from the left side, but primarily, wind can actually help runners if it’s going in the right direction.

Heat is always a factor, while runners typically prefer cooler weather with low humidity. Monday is “likely to be dry for runners, with the humidity predicted to drop to around 40 percent,” according to AccuWeather.

Back in 2012, over 2,000 runners were treated for a heat stroke. But it’s not going to be much more than an afterthought for the race itself.

Monday’s race gets underway at 8:50 a.m. ET, with elite women getting started at 9:32 and elite men at 10 a.m. Lemi Berhanu Hayle and Atsede Baysa, the men and women’s winners last year, will be competing.

United States Olympians Galen Rupp, Jared Ward, and Meb Keflezighi will be in the highly competitive men’s field. Desi Linden, another U.S. Olympian, will also be in the women’s field, with course record holder Buzunesh Deba and two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat to contend, along with the aforementioned defending champions.

Date: Monday, April 17

Time: 8:30 a.m. ET

TV: NBC Sports Network

Online Streaming: BAA, NBC Sports Live