Thankful For A Warm and Sturdy Observatory 2015-02-22 16:04:58.000 - Caleb Meute, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Tonight, the temperatures will be falling to around 21 degrees below zero by the time that the sun rises in the morning. As a day observer, we generally split the day observations in half so that we can get our other jobs done throughout the day. I will be on afternoon observations tomorrow, and I will be bundling up more so than I ever have before. The low temperatures are looking to approach the mid-30s below zero in the afternoon with winds that will

On Course for the Coldest February on Record 2015-02-21 17:09:33.000 - Michael Kyle, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   As most of the Northeast can attest too, this winter seems to be one of the coldest winters in recent memory. Cold Artic air has invaded much of the northeast for weeks now, with next to no rest for the cold and weary. In addition to the relentless cold, there has been week after week of winter storms, covering much of New England with upwards of 20 inches of snow. Here on the summit we have not been spared from this brutal winter.

What a Difference 80 Years Makes 2015-02-20 15:39:25.000 - Adam Freierman, Summit Intern   In addition to its famously extreme weather and unique location atop the highest peak in the northeastern United States, the Mount Washington Observatory gains considerable notoriety from the longevity of its existence. Continuous records of weather observations have been kept on the summit since 1932, and these historical data sets are invaluable resources for meteorological and climatological studies. While most of this data is available to scientists, one of the ongoing projects at the observatory is to complete digitization of the earliest records. In the 1930’s

A Great "Spring Break" 2015-02-19 15:21:02.000 - Charlie and Jeanine Kinney, Summit Volunteers   Here we are mid-February and just closing the candy box on another holiday. The wind outside sounds like it wants to rearrange the living quarters and the bulb on the thermometer turned blue. Monday night I dreamt I could hear “I’ll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down.” Friday we were scheduled to have a Day Trip followed by a Climbing Trip and both were canceled due to the conditions. Disappointing for us but more so for the participants. The crew had to

Cold Temperatures, but Deep Snow 2015-02-16 17:43:43.000 - Mike Dorfman, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   The summit dipped down to 35 degrees below zero last night, tying my personal record for cold temperatures in my time here. As far as I can tell, we were recording the second coldest temperature on Earth for several times last night, second only to the South Pole station in Antarctica. Our wind chill, which approached 90 below at its coldest, was the lowest recorded on Earth last night. So, why are we getting such cold temperatures? The answer is related to the reason we’re getting

Rime Ice: It’s Cool… Supercool! 2015-02-15 14:31:49.000 - Nate Iannuccillo, Summit Intern   We sure have a lot of rime up here in the winter; in fact, it’s all over the place on the summit. For me a surface coated in rime has always been the classic picture of an extreme Mount Washington winter.     Rime ice coats the chimney of the Tip Top House.   Ok, so we can see that rime is super cool… but what exactly is rime, and how does it form?   To first present the essential definition, rime can be described as a

One Storm at a Time 2015-02-14 23:04:45.000 - Kaitlyn O'Brien, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   We have certainly been experiencing a very active weather pattern this month, and it doesn’t appear to be letting up any time soon. An area of low pressure currently impacting New England is expected to bring up to a foot of snow along the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, with totals possibly exceeding a foot in localized areas. Snow has already begun falling across much of the area and will likely last through much of tomorrow before finally tapering off tomorrow night.   Storm snowfall

Internships at the Observatory: An Inside Look 2015-02-13 23:15:37.000 - Kaitlyn O'Brien, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Every summer, fall, and winter, the Observatory searches for qualified interns who are interested in learning about extreme weather while assisting with the daily tasks required to run a mountaintop weather station. An internship with the Observatory is a great opportunity to find your passion. I know this because I served as an intern two years ago, and it was the best summer of my life. I had discovered something I loved to do. Whether you are currently in school, or you’re a recent

The Pins Keep Falling…Throwing Strikes in Cyclone Alley 2015-02-12 22:10:43.000 - Nate Iannuccillo, Summit Intern   If you were to think of the northeastern US as a bowling alley and mid-latitude cyclones as the bowling balls, then we’re seeing one heck of a game this winter, because the storms keep hitting their mark. Today’s snow showers mark the latest mid-latitude cyclone to barrel through New England, and this trend shows no sign of letting up over the course of this next week. Looking ahead, we are going to continue to see more snowfall contribute to this year’s record setting winter.

Another Week on the Summit 2015-02-11 20:36:17.000 - Mike Zlogar, Summit Volunteer   This is my tenth volunteer shift at the summit. Each shift brings new experiences. Weather patterns, storms, clouds, and the way the sunlight bathes the summit make each day unique. Most days this week were in the clouds with snow and wind. Tuesday started with low wind and mild temperatures. The temperature dropped, the winds pick up and we experienced ground blizzard conditions. The daylight faded with a beautiful sunset.     This week was filled with firsts. This is the first week without my wife Sue