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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

1603, 2010

I love shoveling!

March 16th, 2010|Categories: Historical Posts|

I love shoveling! 2010-03-16 21:43:49.000 - John Bauhs,  Summit Volunteer Shoveling the tower today. I love snow. I love to watch it fall and I love to shovel it. I especially love snow because I know I will have to shovel it. The more it snows, the

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1503, 2010

Dealing with a big drift

March 15th, 2010|Categories: Historical Posts|

Dealing with a big drift 2010-03-15 22:46:56.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer and Meteorologist Here is my very scientific meteorological evaluation of the weather pattern on Mount Washington for the last several weeks:Sunny, sunny, sunny, STORM, sunny, sunny, sunny, STORMThe 'storm' part of that pattern has fallen on

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1403, 2010

The 14th.

March 14th, 2010|Categories: Historical Posts|

The 14th. 2010-03-14 22:15:44.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Staff Meteorologist 13 nails balanced on 1. March 14th has a few things going for it. If you live in the northeast, you are either cleaning up or experiencing a fairly strong Nor'easter that is moving up along the coast

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November 17th, 2009|Comments Off on NULL

NULL 2009-11-17 06:13:18.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer and Meteorologist NULL One of the side effects of constantly looking up at the clouds is a resulting curiosity about what lies beyond the weather. That vast, expansive,

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November 16th, 2009|Comments Off on NULL

NULL 2009-11-16 07:56:24.000 - Mary Ellen Dunn,  Summit Intern Lenticular Clouds at Sunrise. The unseasonably mild weather on the summit the past few days had brought some hopes of possibly breaking a few temperature records,

Nor’easters

November 15th, 2009|Comments Off on Nor’easters

Nor'easters 2009-11-15 05:16:44.000 - Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist Nor'easter of 1996 Although the storm that visited the area yesterday was technically not a Nor'easter for New England, a bit further south, it certainly was. What

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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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