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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

3108, 2014

Sunrise Drive on the Summit

August 31st, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Sunrise Drive on the Summit 2014-08-31 19:44:56.000 - Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist Star Trails and 'Headlight Trails' Before Sunrise This morning was the third and final sunrise drive of the summer! For those of you unfamiliar, these drives, hosted by the Mount Washington Auto Road, allow

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3008, 2014

Fall means Football!

August 30th, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Fall means Football! 2014-08-30 20:44:10.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Boomer Sooner! As Ryan mentioned yesterday, fall is certainly right around the corner! In addition to the weather-related changes like falling temperatures, accumulating snow, and the daylight hours growing increasingly shorter, some other things to look

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2908, 2014

Goodbye To Summer, Hello To Fall

August 29th, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Goodbye To Summer, Hello To Fall 2014-08-29 22:03:15.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Northern Presidentials at Sunset. Labor Day Weekend usually signifies the 'end' of summer for many people since kids head back to school and fall is right around the corner. Labor Day also marks several

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

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Cheers to our Volunteers

May 13th, 2014|Comments Off on Cheers to our Volunteers

Cheers to our Volunteers 2014-05-13 23:31:25.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Volunteers Joe and John watching the sunset It was another beautiful day on the summit of Mount Washington! Winds were light and variable,

Spring is Here

May 12th, 2014|Comments Off on Spring is Here

Spring is Here 2014-05-12 20:01:51.000 - Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer A Raven Playing in the Wind After a brief hiatus from the summit, I enjoyed a beautiful ride up today on the Observatory's first trip

Happy Mother’s Day

May 11th, 2014|Comments Off on Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother's Day 2014-05-11 18:14:27.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Our reminder for today. When we work up here for a week at a time, the days sometimes meld together and it is sometimes easy

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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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Alternatively, you can enable our Historical Weather Alexa Skill, or our Alexa Flash Briefing Audio forecast.

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