T-Shirt Weather on Mount Washington Is Not Quite Here

2013-04-07 17:36:35.000 – Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer

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After a brief hike over to Clay today (for those of you not familiar, it’s about a 2.5 mile round-trip hike from the summit), I fully understood how the balmy valley conditions can be misleading. I was surprised by the amount of blowing snow, limiting visibility to about 50 feet in front of me and pelting every inch of my body to the point where even the snow hitting my jacket was becoming painful.

The quickly melting snow patches in the valley are no indication of temperatures and weather on the summit. Temperatures below zero and bitter wind chills are not uncommon this time of year on the summit. Even on relatively nice days like today, a quick shift in wind direction can lead to whiteout conditions with bits of rime and snow pelting every inch of a hiker’s body. It is best to be prepared for full-on winter conditions, unless a cleansing (and painful) blown-snow facial massage is what you’re looking for.

Observer footnote: if you’re looking for a fun activity in the Mount Washington Valley, make sure to check out our free Weather Discovery Center. We’re currently featuring a new gallery on loan from Plymouth State University’s Museum of the White Mountains called ‘To the Extremes: The Geology of Adventure in the White Mountains’. The exhibition features 24 photographic and text panels that detail the connections between geological history and recreation in the White Mountains. The Weather Discovery Center is located across the street from the Eastern Slope Inn, in North Conway, and is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer