2022 Seek the Peak Photos 2022-07-20 10:40:15.000 - MWOBS Staff, Contributed photos.   Thanks to our 2022 Seek the Peak fundraisers, sponsors, volunteers, Vendor Village exhibitors, and visitors, our 22nd annual event was a huge success, helping us raise an impressive $175,000!   That’s a critical portion of our annual budget and will help sustain Mount Washington Observatory's work in mountain meteorology and climate science.   Mount Washington Observatory is celebrating 90 years this fall, and Seek the Peak is a critical fundraising event to keep our nonprofit going another nine decades.   Next year, Seek the Peak will return

Saying Farewell to the 'Home of the World’s Worst Weather' 2022-06-27 17:27:39.000 - Jackie Bellefontaine, Weather Observer & Education Specialist   Great memories and great people.    In January 2021, I started an incredible adventure here at Mount Washington Observatory as an intern, followed by joining our summit staff that following March as a weather observer and education specialist. Over my time here, I have grown in many ways and have found a home on the summit.   I’m so fortunate for my experiences and the amazing people who make up the summit — my fellow observers who are truly

From the High Arctic to Mount Washington’s Alpine Tundra 2022-06-20 13:43:57.000 - Hayden Pearson, Weather Observer & Education Specialist   Hayden Pearson driving to fieldwork in central Spitsbergen. Image taken by fellow researcher Cody Barnett.   Transitioning from working in the high Arctic to the top of Mount Washington has had its fair share of similarities. My name is Hayden Pearson and I am the newest Weather Observer and Research Specialist working here on New England’s tallest peak.   I am incredibly excited for this opportunity to contribute to the work being done up here at the Observatory and get

Mt Washington Summer Season 2022 Information 2022-05-23 19:25:29.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   With summer quickly approaching, you might be looking for information to plan a visit to the summit of Mount Washington. There are various entities that make up a visitor’s experience in the summer. It’s important to plan according to the different schedules of these organizations. So, below are some references you can utilize to help your visit go smoothly.   Mount Washington Observatory:   Weather Station Tours – Our tours return this summer and will be available to Observatory members when the Mt. Washington State

Research to Look at Near-Surface Lapse Rates: the Amount of Temperature Change with Elevation 2022-05-17 18:55:34.000 - Jay Broccolo, Weather Observer & Meteorologist   The MWOBS automated weather station at elevation 4,300 feet, part of the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet.   We recently completed a technical overview of the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet (MWRM) for submission to a scientific journal. The paper coalesces the history, metadata, instrumentation, functions, and uses of the MRWM, our network of remote weather stations at varying elevations. The overview also explains the value of a mesonet in the White Mountains along with the unique challenges

Spring Weather Means it's Time to Fly (or Hike)! 2022-05-10 08:24:31.000 - Sam Robinson, Weather Observer/Engineer   As winter starts to lose its tight grip on the higher summits this spring, the Home of the World’s Worst Weather has begun to show a bit of forgiveness. Overall, winds have relaxed a bit, temperatures have become less bone-chilling, and the snow and ice is beginning to disappear. This seasonal improvement in weather tends to lead to increased recreational activity around the mountains but also more favorable conditions for aviation activities. Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed multiple training exercises

A Look Back at Measuring the Extreme Winds on Mount Washington 2022-04-12 12:03:50.000 - Adam Muhith, Summit Intern   A range of the anemometers designed and used during the Observatory's history, shown above clockwise from top left, include the Heated No. 2, Grandfather Pitot, Pitot 92, Pitot 94, Pitot 97, Pitot 11, and Pitot 19.   Today is Big Wind Day, commemorating the 231 mph wind gust recorded by Mount Washington Observatory staff on April 12, 1934.     Since the earliest days of observing weather on the summit, measuring wind speeds has been a challenge. Heavy icing conditions and extreme

An Uncommon Commute to Study our Weather and Climate 2022-03-23 14:27:15.000 - Jackie Bellefontaine, Weather Observer and Education Specialist   One of the most common questions I’m asked as a Weather Observer is how my colleagues and I get to work. The logistics of getting up and down Mount Washington change depending on the season and conditions. We have several vehicles, including a van, truck, and Bombardier snowcat. The snowcat is definitely the standout vehicle that people are most curious about – understandably so!   The snowcat is similar to the groomers at ski resorts, with large tank-like treads and

Brrrrr, It’s Cold Outside, but the Rime Ice is Beautiful! 2022-03-15 14:34:34.000 - Matthew Addison, Weather Observer/Meteorologist   It’s been four months since I arrived at Mount Washington and wow, has it been chilly! In my 26+ years as a meteorologist, I can say this has indeed been the coldest weather I’ve ever experienced.   Of 147 days on the summit, only 28 have seen the temperature rise above freezing, which means it’s been below freezing 81% of my time here. While that may not seem too bad for most New Englanders, as a native Texan, this is a bit