Sunrise with undercast on March 9.

Dear Member,

People become aware of Mount Washington Observatory in many ways. It could be your love of extreme weather, an appreciation of the deep historical roots of the organization, an admiration of our research, or the role we play in creating awareness of the weather in Mount Washington’s environs.

I came to the Obs through this last route. My father frequently performed mountain rescues for distressed hikers, and he relied heavily on the accuracy of our forecasts.

Fast forward 50 years, and I am honored to become the first woman chair of this august organization! While our history is a rich one, it is the future that excites me the most. This future is being shaped by many talented women across our organization. Learn more about our staff and Board of Trustees.

With so much coming up, I hope you can join us at one of the many interesting events.

Check out our Events Calendar and find what interests you the most. For me, it is a difficult choice. A once-in-a-lifetime event is coming up with the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. That’s followed quickly by the 90th Anniversary of Big Wind Day, a historic event. And no summer would be complete without Seek the Peak. It should get your blood pumping as you tackle Mount Washington yourself or root for those who do!

If you are less inclined to sprint up the mountain, perhaps you can be tempted by the many dine-to-donate events, where you’ll find all of us who love the Observatory enjoying the fine cuisine of our region.

However you come to MWOBS, we welcome your interest and look forward to seeing you on the mountain!

Sincerely,

Erica Broman, Ed.D.

Board of Trustees Chair

MARCH WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

Highest Temperature

43 °F 

Lowest Temperature

-17 °F

Fastest Wind Speed

150 MPH

Precipitation

11.92 IN

Complete monthly weather data can be viewed here. Check the Higher Summits Forecast for an extended weather outlook as we approach the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse.

Author Rachel Slade Recounts Summit Experience

Read a deep excerpt of acclaimed author Rachel Slade’s new essay, “Will They Believe It?” in which she recounts her experience on Mount Washington last April on the 89th anniversary of Big Wind Day. Her full story will be published in the September/October 2024 edition of Yankee Magazine.

Science in the Mountains: Forecasting the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

In our latest Science in the Mountains, Observatory team members Brian Fitzgerald and Francis Tarasiewicz joined astronomer Shawn Laatsch from the University of Maine to discuss the science of eclipses, how to safely view them, and crucially, what the weather forecast will likely be in your planned viewing location.

Citizen CATE Q+A with State Coordinator Jackie Bellefontaine

Bellefontaine will help support a team on the ground at Pittsburg Public School in Pittsburg, NH, with the public encouraged to join in the inquiry. We recently spoke with her about the Citizen CATE project and ways for eclipse viewers to participate in citizen science opportunities around the event.

Solar Eclipse Contest

On April 8, Mount Washington will NOT be in the total solar eclipse path of totality, but we WILL be measuring the change in temperature caused by incoming solar radiation at the summit. Be the first person to guess how temperature changes during the eclipse’s maximum, and you will win a behind-the-scenes tour of our summit weather station with our Executive Director, Drew Bush, as well as lunch with our scientists!

To enter, make a donation over $10 at this link and write “eclipse competition” in the notes field (under Additional Details). The first two numbers of your donation amount should be equal to the whole number and tenths place of your guess (i.e., $72 means a guess of 7.2 degrees Celsius). Need help? Check out this peer reviewed article from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A on atmospheric changes from solar eclipses. All donations support our 91-year legacy of scientific research and education.

From the Obs Archive: The World Record Wind Story

Featured in the summit’s Extreme Mount Washington Museum, this film tells the story of Big Wind Day in the words of Salvatore Pagliuca and Alexander McKenzie. Accompanied by historical photographs and images from the crew’s logbook, the experience is an immersive and educational step back in time.

Upcoming Events

Total Eclipse of the Art Reception 

Come to the Omni Mount Washington Resort’s Great Hall on Saturday, April 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for an exhibition and reception featuring Weather Observer Ryan Knapp’s astrophotography and light refreshments.

Understanding Weather and Climate of the Solar Eclipse

Join MWOBS educators in the Omni Mount Washington Resort’s Grand Ballroom on Sunday, April 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon for their presentation, “Understanding Weather and Climate of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse (And Viewing Tips).”

Eclipse Science and Some Surprising Misconceptions

Join Dr. Neil F. Comins, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Maine, in the Omni Mount Washington Resort’s Grand Ballroom on Sunday, April 7 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Dr. Comins will present “Eclipse Science and Surprising Misconceptions about Our Solar System.”

Open House at the Gladys Brooks Memorial Library

Join our Trustees and staff, including Curator Peter Crane, Ph.D., on Thursday, April 11 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Gladys Brooks Memorial Library. Explore the amazing history of Big Wind Day by viewing archival materials and a replica of the heated No. 2 anemometer that measured the 231 mph wind gust.

90th Big Wind Day Anniversary Celebration

Our 90th Anniversary Celebration takes place at Tuckerman Brewing on Friday, April 12 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Enjoy lots of family fun and meet relatives of Alex McKenzie, Sal Pagliuca, and Wendell Stephenson! $1 of every 6288 Stout purchased at the event (and throughout April) will be donated to the Observatory. Partial sales from this commemorative anniversary t-shirt will also go back to our programs!

24th Annual Seek the Peak

Registration for our 24th annual Seek the Peak is OPEN! We’re almost at 100 participants; help us get there by registering individually or with a team, or better yet, get a workplace team together and enter our Business Team Competition! We also have a Students and Family Competition for our younger hikers, and as always there are perks and prizes for fundraising levels: Register today!

Gordini Sponsors MWOBS’ Live-Streaming Webcams

We’re very excited to partner with Gordini! Based in Vermont, Gordini focuses on innovations that solve challenges faced by its users and the planet, and joins the Observatory as a sponsor of our webcams that stream live views of mountain weather. Learn more at gordini.com.

Summit Receives New Medical Supplies & Training

Thanks to support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund, we’ve added two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and new medical supplies to our summit weather station and snow cat. As we work to train our staff in medical procedures with partners at Mount Washington State Park, we’re thankful for this support to upgrade our equipment.