All programs begin at 7pm unless otherwise indicated. In April, August, and November, programs will be hosted in-person in North Conway, New Hampshire and at other locations throughout New England. If you’re joining us virtually, we encourage you to connect early and come with questions!

Wednesday, August 12th: Summer 2026 Research Round-Up at Mount Washington Observatory
Alex Libby, Aspen Medvec, Aubrey Palmer, Kristen Mihalcik; Mount Washington Observatory Summer Summit Interns 

Join us on Zoom or in person at the Observatory’s administrative offices in North Conway Village to learn all about the current research investigations that cover a range of fascinating topics:

How Do Hikers Interpret the Hazards of Mount Washington? 
The Observatory’s Higher Summits Forecast communicates a range of dangerous hiking hazards, but how do hikers really interpret these? Is a “moderate,” “heightened,” or “elevated” risk of hypothermia worse? Using a survey, this project tested hundreds of language combinations on the people who read our forecast, setting the record straight on what language is confusing versus clear, helping to improve the Higher Summits Forecast Discussion. 

Characterizing Atmospheric Environments Favorable for Mountain Wave-Associated Turbulence Near Mount Washington 
“Mountain waves” are a severe atmospheric disturbance that occurs when strong winds flow perpendicular to mountain ranges, resulting in significant turbulence downwind of mountains posing hazards to aviation. This research investigates how well near surface observations and vertically derived profiles can be used to characterize conditions favorable for mountain wave- associated turbulence near Mount Washington. 

Atmospheric River Occurrence and Associated Fall-Season Precipitation as a Function of Madden-Julian Oscillation Phase in Northern New England 
An Atmospheric River (AR) is essentially a “river in the sky” that can produce massive amounts of localized precipitation throughout the United States. The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is an area of enhanced thunderstorm activity that originates over the Indian Ocean, Maritime Continent, and Pacific Ocean. As this area of thunderstorms moves around the tropics, heat is released into the atmosphere, creating large-scale waves that eventually propagate into North America. In response, storm tracks and the jet stream change, thus, influencing whether ARs can form and how they travel. While ARs commonly occur around the West Coast of the U.S, approximately 30-35% of annual precipitation over the broad eastern United States (EUS) can be attributed to AR activity, and ARs are responsible for more than 60% of extreme precipitation events and over 70% of flood events across the EUS (Dong et al. 2024). This study examines whether certain MJO phases are associated with more frequent atmospheric rivers and whether these ARs produce greater watershed-averaged precipitation. 

Can PACE-Derived Vegetation and Pigment Indices Track Fall Foliage Progression Across Selected Forested Areas of the White Mountains? 
Fall foliage progression is difficult to monitor consistently across the White Mountains as assessments often rely on PhenoCam visuals and eyewitness reports. This project uses NASA’s PACE satellite vegetation and pigment indices to test whether changes in greenness, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin signals can capture the seasonal transition from green canopy to peak color to leaf-off. By comparing PACE-derived index trends with Bartlett PhenoCam observations from 2024 and 2025, this work evaluates whether satellite data can serve as a useful proxy for tracking fall foliage progression in northern New England. 

Friday, May 8th: Chasing Washburn: Griffin Post’s Quest to Find a Historic Camera Buried in Ice
Griffin Post

Join big mountain skier and adventurer Griffin Post for a gripping story of exploration, history, and discovery. Post recounts his multi-expedition journey to uncover a long-lost gear cache left behind by legendary mountaineer, photographer and cartographer Bradford Washburn and his partner Robert Bates during their daring 1937 ascent of Mount Lucania. Blending adventure with science, his talk also sheds light on glacial movement and the impacts of climate change on one of the world’s largest non-polar ice fields.

Tuesday, February 24th: Communicating Climate Change Science, Effects, and Solutions at Climate Central
Climate Central Weather & Climate Staff 

Climate Central, a policy-neutral, nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and communication organization, uses science, big data, and technology to make climate change local and personal. By translating complex data and science into compelling visuals and storylines, they help people see how climate change is affecting the people, places, and things that they love–and what they can do about it. Their work spans climate science, extreme weather, sea level rise, energy, and related topics. In collaboration with TV meteorologists, journalists, other trusted messengers, and decision-makers, Climate Central focuses on connecting people to reliable information about what’s happening now–and why it matters.  

Join us to learn about Climate Central’s work in communicating climate change, including new tools developed to help the public understand impacts happening today. 

Tuesday, January 27th, 2026, Forecasting for the Private Maritime Industry
Jeremy Davis, Director of Operations, Weather Routing Inc. 

Weather can have significant impacts on all aspects of travel, shipping, recreation, agriculture and beyond. In the case of the maritime industry, companies such as Weather Routing Inc. (WRI), play a big role supporting vessels around the world – keeping them well warned of hazardous weather, and maximizing the efficiency of their routes. Come learn with Director of Operations, Jeremy Davis, as we hear about private forecasting services for the maritime community, including in Jeremy’s division that support sailing, yachting, and even sportfishing clients. You will also hear about his firsthand experiences on a sailing adventure from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, from the challenging weather to breathtaking natural sites. 

Thursday, November 13th at 6:30pm: Unveiling the New White Mountains Almanac: A Year in the Changing Landscape
Karl Philippoff, Weather Observer/Research Specialist, Mount Washington Observatory; Georgia Murray, Research Scientist, Appalachian Mountain Club 

Join us for a preview of the White Mountains Almanac, a new annual publication that brings together science, art, and storytelling to capture the changing character of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. 

Created in collaboration with the Mount Washington Observatory, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, the White Mountains Almanac offers a unique look at the region’s evolving climate, ecology, and natural beauty. Twelve chapters (one for each month of the year) feature vivid illustrations, data visualizations, and field observations, documenting the intricate relationships among weather, recreation, wilderness, and the landscape over time. 

This special virtual program will feature presentations by contributing scientists, sharing insights into the making of the almanac and what it reveals about the past, present, and future of this iconic mountain region. 

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, educator, researcher, or policymaker, this event invites you to explore how science and creativity can help us better understand and appreciate the living landscape of the White Mountains.