Dear *{{Informal Name}}*,
Today, the Observatory marks the 91st anniversary of the World Record Wind of 231 miles per hour, clocked by summit staff on April 12, 1934. Though a slightly higher wind has since been recorded, in 1996 during a tropical cyclone off the coast of Australia, the significance of the Great Wind on Mount Washington remains. In particular:
- Mount Washington does indeed have “world class” weather extremes of cold, icing, and especially wind, and the experience of that weather is so much more accessible than in places such as the Arctic, the Antarctic, or the high Himalayas.
- The Observatory staff of the 1930s was remarkably dedicated and capable, reliably recording such a significant occurrence with scientific accuracy. Experts helped our early staff develop the specialized instrumentation needed to capture such weather data while persisting in very challenging conditions to accomplish important tasks.
- Today’s Observatory staff remains inspired by the crew members from almost a century ago, striving to follow their example of devotion to scientific duties—whether it’s making weather observations every hour around the clock, in whatever conditions the mountain can dish out, or developing new anemometers for use on Everest and Aconcagua.
While we must now append the words “by human hands” to our record, this day remains an inspiration to our staff, Trustees, volunteers, and all who visit the Northeast’s highest peak. Today’s celebration marks the endurance of our forebears, against all odds, to establish our organization and—with one brief gust—the significance of its work for all time.
We hope you will join us in honoring this incredible legacy. If you are near, we hope you can join us in person at Tuckerman Brewing Company in Conway, NH. If you are far, we hope you will enjoy reading about the incredible history of this event or watching a video on it. No matter where you are located, we are thankful for all you do to support our work.
Sincerely,
