Looking out from the summit on the morning of July 11. Ellen Estabrook photo.

Dear *{{Informal Name}}*,

And just like that, August is already here.

It’s been a busy summer full of educational programs and experiences. Our educators have been engaged with youth programs of all stripes, including off-site camp programs such as the Mt. Washington Valley Schools to Careers Camps and Kingdom East School District’s summer camp.

A new generation of “Junior Weather Observers” has gained data collection and analysis skills, interviewed Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) scientists, and explored Mount Washington on guided field trips up the Mt. Washington Auto Road and Mount Washington Cog Railway.

Thanks in part to the Dorr Family Foundation and Conway School District’s Project SUCCEED, MWOBS is also excited to introduce and host the completely free Storm Scouts youth summer day camp for the very first time, beginning next week.

Perhaps you’re one of the sixteen K-12 educators joining our Peak Perspectives: Professional Learning in Weather & Climate overnight program (also partly funded by the Dorr Family Foundation). Or maybe you attended a free Science in the Mountains lecture recently.

You might also be one of the nearly 1,000 people who toured our weather station this summer, or among the thousands visiting our Extreme Mount Washington summit museum.

As we look ahead to the fall, we couldn’t be more excited to continue expanding our educational programs to increase understanding of weather and climate in our lives. In this newsletter, take a look at our new impact story as well as a new climate fact sheet published with our research partners.

We hope you’ll join us for an upcoming program, such as the Science in the Mountains Aug. 13 evening lecture showcasing MWOBS research projects and Sept. 24 evening lecture with astronomer Will Grundy. Or, consider signing up for an overnight winter Edutrip once our schedule launches early this fall.

We are thrilled to be learning alongside you! And we are so grateful for your support, which makes our work in weather and climate education possible.

Sincerely,

Brian Fitzgerald

Director of Education

JULY WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

Highest Temperature

62 °F 

Lowest Temperature

40°F

Fastest Wind Speed

83 MPH

Precipitation

10.25 IN

Complete monthly weather data can be viewed here. Check the Higher Summits Forecast for an extended weather outlook, and tune in to our Weekend Higher Summits Forecast discussion live on Facebook every Friday at 5:00 PM EST.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS RECAP

In this new impact story, the MWOBS education team recaps our 2023-24 school programs and looks ahead to a fun-filled second half of summer, featuring an upcoming first-of-its-kind summer day camp.

IN REMEMBRANCE
GUY GOSSELIN

A true legend of the Observatory left us on March 7, 2024. Guy Gosselin transformed this institution, moving our operations into Mount Washington State Park’s Sherman Adams Visitor Center and establishing what is now known as the Extreme Mount Washington Summit Museum. He passed away at 90 years old.

Immediate Past Chair, longtime friend, and Trustee Rob Kirsch has penned this beautiful tribute. You can also view a 2017 video interview in which Gosselin recounts our formative early years alongside stories and archival photographs.

24TH ANNUAL SEEK THE PEAK

Chris Gauthier/LightChaser Productions photo.

Hikers and sponsors participating in the 24th Annual Seek the Peak contributed over $228,000 to MWOBS. These vital funds will propel our commitment to real-time weather data and forecasting in the White Mountains. Read the press release and view our photo album. And save the date: The 25th Annual Seek the Peak will be held on July 18-19, 2025!

RAIN ON SNOW RESEARCH

The Evolving Seasonality of Winter

In his recent blog post, Weather Observer Charlie Peachey presents a summary of findings from current research on rain on snow events, defined as liquid precipitation on existing snowpack, occurring on the summit of Mount Washington from September 1989 through May 2020.

SCIENCE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Join us on Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 PM for Science in the Mountains: Active Research at Mount Washington Observatory, as staff and interns showcase Observatory-led research projects. Four summit interns will share their work advancing three unique projects this summer. Learn more and register here to save your spot!

RECENT COLLABORATIONS

SUNY Brockport Highlights MWOBS Internships

If you’re curious about what an internship on the summit of Mount Washington is like, check out this new video by SUNY Brockport, spotlighting former intern and alum Tricia Hutton during her winter on the Rockpile.

Research Partners Publish Climate Fact Sheet

Long-term records from four sites across the White Mountains indicate the climate has been shifting, as detailed in this new fact sheet from the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), U.S. Forest Service, Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, and MWOBS. These shifts include increases in air temperature, rainfall, as well as decreases in snow cover. The records reported are from observations made daily by MWOBS and other researchers since the 1930s in the White Mountains, a region defined by its four distinct seasons.

AMC Science Communicator Tours the Summit

Join AMC Science Communicator Gabriella Gurney on the summit to learn more about our collaboration with the AMC, aimed at enhancing our understanding of weather and climate.

New Podcast Episode: Hear the Latest from Sounds Like a Search and Rescue

Podcast hosts Stomp and Mike talk with Weather Observer & Education Specialist Francis Tarasiewicz and Executive Director Drew Bush at Tuckerman Brewing Company.

Our team was excited to talk with Mike and Stomp on the Sounds like a Search and Rescue podcast during the July 19 Seek the Peak Kick-off Party, where they discussed safety in the White Mountains as well as what it’s like to live, work, and forecast on the summit of Mount Washington.

HEADLINE HIGHLIGHTS

Here is a selection of recent stories about our work by regional media.

• The Conway Daily Sun’s Seek the Peak recap cover story
• The Boston Globe’s story about life and forecasting on Mount Washington
• Berlin Sun’s feature on Volunteering on Mount Washington

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dine-to-Donate in Portsmouth, NH

Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 4:00-9:00 PM at Flatbread Pizza Company in Portsmouth, NH for great pies and a chance to meet some MWOBS staff and learn more about our mission. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to support our work in weather and climate science. You can find our event at 138 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801. Learn more here!