An eventful day.

2010-05-17 23:32:26.000 – Ryan Knapp,  Staff Meteorologist

An interesting cloud from this morning.

They say that a picture is worth 1000 words and after yesterdays long winded comment, this time, I will use more pictures than words. The day started out with some of the weirdest clouds I have seen up here. What made it even odder was the apparent lack of moisture and how they were forming. The high pressure that was building in was blocking most of the water vapor visible on the satellite and the closest sounding was very dry as well. But somehow the winds tapped this moisture and generated ribbon like clouds all around the summit. I have been calling them Anti-cap clouds because they were doing the opposite of how we normally get clap clouds here leaving a giant blue hole above us with these ribbons all around. So here are a few of the pictures: (due to time constraints, some of my photo stitches are a bit rough, so sorry)

Alpine glow picture

Alpine glow picture 2

Sunrise 1

Sunrise 2

Sunrise 3

So after an eventful morning, I headed off to bed. When I awoke, I found that the Mount Washington Auto Road had opened far sooner than any of us living up here expected. So, if you have been waiting to drive up, now you can. But as always, check their website or call before you head to the base just in case. I also found boxes galorein our gift shop as we start preparing to open our gift shop by this weekend if not sooner. This also meant Bill, our retail manager, and our shifts museum attendant, Ryane (yeah, that won’t get confusing), are staying up here tonight. I was then told that the van they brought to the summit would be retiring after this trip. Kind of sad to see it go since it was the van we used to drive up my first summer here but at the same time I understand the reasons for its departure.

When I headed out to do my first observation for the evening, I found the COSMO shack being torn down. Another weird sight to see but not unexpected as this has been in the plans for a while now. Looking back at the tower, there was an awesome halo around the tower making it look angelic almost. And then to close out the day we were treated to a decent sunset leaving a ribbon of color to our northeast. Hopefully my night shift won’t be nearly as busy or bizarre as the rest of the day has been. But I have my camera ready just in case.

Ryan Knapp,  Staff Meteorologist