Temperature:      Wind Speed:      Gust:      Wind Chill:      Direction:    Switch to Metric

Temperature:

Wind Speed:      Gust:

Wind Chill:      Direction:
   Switch to Metric

Mount Washington Observatory

Citizen Science Puts Weather Reporting in Your Hands

A distant shower falls over Mount Martha, NH (aka, Cherry Mountain). 
If you’re anything like me, you probably have an app or two dedicated to weather on your phone. Maybe you have a preferred app for weather forecasts, another for radar data, and yet another for satellite data. Or maybe instead of apps, you have several go-to websites bookmarked for various weather data.
Weather information keeps us informed so that we can prepare appropriately for the weather ahead, short-term or long-term. With colder weather in the forecast, we might pack a few extra layers or pull in a few more logs for the stove. Or, we might receive a warning about a severe storm heading your direction, and so we pack up, head indoors, and keep an eye on its progress.
While your favorite apps or websites might be providing you with weather data, did you know there are a few apps/sites that you can utilize and provide current weather data to aid in research as a citizen scientist?
Here are some apps that I have on my phone and might be of interest to you:
Mountain Rain or Snow
Remote sensing is improving and aiding in filling weather data gaps. However, precipitation phase changes can be difficult over mountainous terrain, and weather stations only provide information at a static location. That is where human observations aid in detailing how precipitation phase changes vary in time and space. Using these apps, with a few taps you can send observations of precipitation during storms at your location.
Forecasting
NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory is collecting weather reports through the free app mPING. What’s “mPING?” It is an acronym for Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground. The data in turn help define the precipitation that is falling at your location and improve forecasts and radar techniques. That in turn filters down to improve those various other weather apps you might be using for forecasts and radar data.
Cloud Types and Sky Conditions 
GLOBE Observer Clouds can be used to observe clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees. With the cloud observation aspect, you can help document cloud cover, cloud types, cloud opacity, sky conditions, visibilities, and surface conditions along with photographic examples. It is a bit more involved than the prior reporting apps, but with a few taps and snaps, you can contribute your real-world observations for better understanding and interpretation of satellite data vs surface data.

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer & Meteorologist

1308, 2009

Intern turned volunteer

August 13th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Intern turned volunteer 2009-08-13 04:06:18.000 - Jeff Wehrwein,  Summit Volunteer A westward view. I expected that returning to the place I called home for 7 months would be a little weird. But that didn't stop me from volunteering on the summit this week with my mom. As

Read More
1208, 2009

An Obs Family

August 12th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

An Obs Family 2009-08-12 13:18:43.000 - Susan Polk,  Summit Volunteer A Beautiful Place There are myriad benefits to being a summit volunteer. Chief among them is the privilege of living with the dedicated staff in a place that defies the imagination. I have had some wonderful experiences

Read More
1108, 2009

Summary of the week: fox, juggling, sun, etc.

August 11th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Summary of the week: fox, juggling, sun, etc. 2009-08-11 16:45:20.000 - Scott Wehrwein,  Summit Intern Pic not related As a very busy and shortstaffed week comes to a close, I thought I'd spend a few minutes to mention some recent happenings on the summit.On my previous shift,

Read More

Share This Post

Support Us

Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research and educational institution working to advance understanding of Earth’s weather and climate.

We cannot do this without your support!

Change

April 21st, 2009|Comments Off on Change

Change 2009-04-21 05:27:58.000 - Mike Carmon,  Observer NULL Change is an enormous part of life up here on the summit. Just this evening, a visibility of 80 miles quickly turned to about 1/2 mile as

Baseball

April 19th, 2009|Comments Off on Baseball

Baseball 2009-04-19 15:23:27.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer and Meteorologist Extreme baseball! "There's no crying in baseball!"The famous line uttered by Tom Hanks in the feel-good movie A League of Their Own. Well, as a girl

Research

April 18th, 2009|Comments Off on Research

Research 2009-04-18 11:34:35.000 - Jordan Scampoli,  Summit Intern Lenticulars over Gorham Whether the White's were so named for the reflection of the granite to early explorers or simply snow and ice, the latter is how

Find Older Posts

Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate. It serves this mission by maintaining a weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, performing weather and climate research, conducting innovative science education programs, and interpreting the heritage of the Mount Washington region. Our weather station is located  on the summit of Mount Washington  in New Hampshire, at Mount Washington State Park.

© Copyright 2026 | Mount Washington Observatory | All Rights Reserved | 603-356-2137

Did you know you can text ‘weather’ and ‘forecast’ to 603-356-2137 for current weather and conditions?
Alternatively, you can enable our Historical Weather Alexa Skill, or our Alexa Flash Briefing Audio forecast.

Go to Top