Media Requests
As a world-renown scientific institution located atop the tallest peak in the Northeast, Mount Washington Observatory is frequently called upon for weather, news, and content relating to Mount Washington and the greater White Mountains region.
We welcome the opportunity to share information with the public.
Conditions
A subarctic environment on par with Antarctica and the polar regions, nowhere else in the contiguous United States is able to offer such readily accessible and consistently extreme conditions:
- High Elevation: 6,288′
- Cold: Annual average temp 27°F; average winter temp 7°F; record low -47°F
- Wind: Annual average 35 mph; at or above hurricane force every other day on average in winter; record high 231 mph
- Precipitation: Annual average 100″ of liquid; annual average 281″ of frozen precipitation; in the fog 60% of the time annually
- Icing: Perfect combination of subfreezing temperatures, moisture, and high winds provide ample rime ice (freezing fog) and glaze ice (clear ice) in spring, fall, and winter
Accessibility
Mount Washington is located within a day’s drive of several major metropolitan areas, and its summit is readily accessible by vehicle (in summer) or Mount Washington Observatory’s snowcat (in winter).
Facilities
The Mount Washington Observatory weather station is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with high-speed internet, phone and video conferencing equipment. A fully-stocked kitchen and bunkrooms allow visitors to experience one of the Earth’s most extreme environments safely and comfortably.
Staffing & Experience
The Mount Washington Observatory weather station is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is an education specialist, who is trained and experienced in speaking on camera, at all times. We have worked with groups ranging from production companies, to documentarians and news media, and with advance notice, can generally accommodate on-the-job interviews and shadowing.
Off the mountain, Mount Washington Observatory’s administrative office provides full-service logistical support for every possible contingency.
Contact
Ellen Estabrook, Communications Manager
(603) 356-2137, ext. 223