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

Where Do You Find a Sledding Hill On the Summit of Mount Washington? 2015-02-10 17:45:38.000 - Michael Kyle, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   This past Christmas a volunteer and member of the Mount Washington Observatory donated/ gifted us a sled. When you are on the summit ironically, there isn’t much in the way of hills that are safe for sledding. While you can travel down the mountain and find some of the best back country slopes in the Northeast for skiing, they are a bit too extreme for sledding. So we had to make do with the 25 foot drift that

A Very Snowy Start to February 2015-02-09 17:57:57.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Meteorologist   Holy snow! A very active weather pattern will finally give New England a break Tuesday, but only after dropping nearly a foot of snow across much of central and southern New Hampshire. With a very snowy February already underway, if this overall weather pattern continues and we see a big storm or two we could be looking at well above average snowfall for the month. Relentless may be the best way to describe the snow this week on the highest peak in New England. Although in

A Midwinter Adventure 2015-02-08 18:21:34.000 - Ruth Innes, Summit Volunteer   I have been spending this week at the top of Mount Washington as a MWOBS Winter Volunteer. This experience is definitely one that you should have if, days of temperatures way below zero, with zero visibility and wind chills of 50 below or more appeals to you! Living at the TOP in the winter is unique. There is wind, cold, snow, zero visibility, AND a great group of weather observers! Time passes quickly, even if the weather causes you to stay inside--except for a few laps around the observation

Normal is Not Boring 2015-02-07 19:02:09.000 - Adam Freierman, Summit Intern   Our last shift week, my first as a summit intern, was one of endless extraordinary sunsets and sunrises, winds of over 100 mph, a few bluebird days with views of New York and the Atlantic, and a much anticipated blizzard that put us in an exciting media spotlight. It was just about everything I could have hoped for on top of Mt. Washington. I suppose this week things have been a bit more “normal”, but that’s not to say it hasn’t been exciting. As my off week came

Attention Winter Climbers of Mount Washington 2015-02-06 15:30:04.000 - Michael Pelchat, Park Manager V Mt Washington State Park   New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation reminds individuals hiking Mount Washington this winter that there is no open shelter or windbreak at the summit. The summit building, operated by Mount Washington State Park, is closed from November to April. State officials encourage winter hikers to plan climbs accordingly and be prepared to hike down as well as up. The weather is always worse in higher elevations and weather can change unexpectedly. For more information about safe hiking practices please visit: