Expansion of Weather Monitoring in White Mountains and State of NH Kicks Off

Marshfield Station, NH, November 27, 2024– Five new remote weather monitoring stations officially launched on the western side of New England’s highest peak this week as part of a collaborative effort between the Mount Washington Cog Railway and Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS). This development of the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet (MWRM) kicks off an extensive expansion of weather monitoring across the Granite State.

At the end of the next four years, 11 original stations in the MWRM will be modernized and the total number will grow to more than 50.

The expansion is made possible by funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission and Mount Washington Cog Railway, and by support from US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, US Representative Chris Pappas, and the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs.

There are currently 22 remote weather stations across various sites in Northern New Hampshire and along the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The five new stations strategically placed on the western side of the mountain (along the Cog Railway corridor) are providing increased coverage and data resolution, described by Jay Broccolo, MWOBS Director of Weather Operations, as a “clearer picture of the localized weather patterns that define Mount Washington’s extreme conditions.” The data is available in real time to the public, updated approximately every minute and published on mountwashington.org (on MWRM and Current Summit Conditions pages).

Partners of MWOBS also note important implications for the region’s economy: “By providing real-time data, this system enhances weather forecasts, offering businesses and communities valuable insights for planning operations, managing risks, and preparing for extreme weather events,” says Janel Lawton, Director of New Hampshire’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development.

“Key industries such as outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality — critical to the regional economy — depend on accurate weather data to make informed decisions. With improved storm tracking, weather prediction, and climate monitoring, this new infrastructure will help drive smarter investments, strengthen economic resilience, and support sustainable growth throughout the region.”

Representatives from county, state, and federal government, the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, the Northern Border Regional Commission, business and nonprofit organizations, and media outlets met at the Mount Washington Cog Railway’s Marshfield Base Station on November 21 to cut the ribbon on the five new weather stations along the railway’s vertical profile.

Learn more about the mesonet expansion here. For more information on the Mount Washington Cog Railway, visit https://www.thecog.com.

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About Mount Washington Observatory:

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 summit facility is located within Mount Washington State Park. For more information, call 603-356-2137 or visit mountwashington.org.