Dear Member,
The deep winter that defines Mount Washington has arrived.
Weather averages tell the story of this season, with February’s temperatures averaging at 6 °F, and snow and ice pellets at 43 inches.
The mountain’s extremes offer a more severe perspective. On this weekend last year during the February Arctic front, our weather observers measured an air temperature of -47 °F. Weather Observer & Research Specialist Karl Philippoff wrote, “On Friday [Feb. 3, 2023], we began taking measurements every half-hour, and by 12:15 a.m., we started to take them every 15-20 minutes until 5:15 a.m., ultimately totaling 22 measurements during these seven hours.”
Our team recorded the low temperature around 4:00 a.m. on Feb. 4 of last year. This matched the Observatory’s all-time record low on Jan. 28, 1934. Following is what Observer Sal Pagliuca wrote about that historic day in our logbook: “A record breaking morning. The temperature oscillating about 46 degrees below zero reached a minimum of 46.5 below zero at 10 a.m….”
Extreme weather events have a way of distilling the Observatory’s purpose into its purest form. Measuring these events is made possible by the hard work, throughout our 91-year history, of our weather observers and the generous support of our dedicated community. This long-term record allows us to study and understand our changing climate.
As we head into a new month of February, maintaining our core operations of forecasting and hourly observations, our research and education staff have also been busy sharing their work and shaping conversations at the American Meteorological Society’s Annual Meeting. And our education team continues to manage an ever-growing slate of programs, both on the mountain and in classrooms.
With notable events coming up, including the 90th anniversary of Big Wind Day and the total solar eclipse (read more below), we look forward to hosting an array of events to bring our community together, allowing us to share the stories that connect us with Mount Washington and its important role in weather and climate science.
Sincerely,
