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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

1611, 2020

Have an Ice Night

November 16th, 2020|Categories: Historical Posts|

Have an Ice Night 2020-11-16 20:20:20.000 - Sam Robinson, Weather Observer/Engineer   Hello from the blustery summit of Mount Washington! I usually write long observers comments but I need to keep it short this time because I am writing this during a storm, while working the night

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911, 2020

Election Polls, Plinko, and Weather Forecasting

November 9th, 2020|Categories: Historical Posts|

Election Polls, Plinko, and Weather Forecasting 2020-11-09 11:57:13.000 - Nate Iannuccillo, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Like many people in the United States this past week, I spent my evenings watching election results come in. One of the striking things about this election as well as elections in

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211, 2020

A Spooky Day on the Summit

November 2nd, 2020|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Spooky Day on the Summit 2020-11-02 14:16:28.000 - Nicole Tallman, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Working for Mount Washington Observatory’s summit weather station means working shifts of 8 days on 6 days off. Sometimes these shifts are normal weeks and other times they fall on birthdays and

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Visiting the Jefferson Snow Patch

July 12th, 2019|Comments Off on Visiting the Jefferson Snow Patch

Visiting the Jefferson Snow Patch 2019-07-12 05:29:57.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   During our previous shift on the summit, my coworkers and I discussed where and when we would hike in our off-week.

The White Mountains temporarily become the Smokey Mountains

July 10th, 2019|Comments Off on The White Mountains temporarily become the Smokey Mountains

The White Mountains temporarily become the Smokey Mountains 2019-07-10 06:26:37.000 - Jay Broccolo, Weather Observer/Meteorologist   The past couple of weeks have been quite hazy, lowering visibility down to as short of a distance as

Marty’s Trip to the Vet

July 8th, 2019|Comments Off on Marty’s Trip to the Vet

Marty's Trip to the Vet 2019-07-08 18:24:06.000 - Ethan Rogers, Summit Intern   Marty the cat, our world-renowned summit mascot, made his yearly trip off the mountain today. His annual trip to the veterinarian came

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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.

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