My First Turn 2013-10-24 17:55:18.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist My First Turn Well it happened, my first ski turn of the season! With the weather depositing rime and a slight coating of snow, there was just enough to cover a small path. It may not have been technical, but gravity pulled me down the slope and that is what counts. Today's turn marks the second turn of the season, as Kevin from State Park made first tracks yesterday. If this isn't impressive for the sake of skiing, it should be a reminder that the weather on the summit

Change Of Season 2013-10-23 21:22:53.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Summit Crew Putting On Chains Today marked yet another checkpoint on our way to winter - putting chains on the tires. While I am an over the top advocate of winter weather, I hate putting on chains! First, there is nothing more annoying than getting my clothing dirty before I ever reach the summit. Putting on chains requires one to lie on the ground to wrestle dirty hooks and clasps into place. Second, it seems that no matter how neatly the chains are put away into their bin, they

Downbursts on the Summit 2013-10-22 18:33:15.000 - Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer (Left) Wind Speed Spike (Right) Pressure Spike Have you ever been in a thunderstorm and, right before it starts raining, a very strong gust of wind blows through, thrashing trees and quite possibly breaking branches? These events, called downbursts, are often the most damaging part of a thunderstorm, forming in front of a thunderstorm by a column of rapidly descending air. These can also occur on the summit however they, along with the rest of the weather above tree line, are much more extreme compared to their counterparts at

The Early Climatology of The Summit 2013-10-21 16:36:25.000 - Samuel Hewitt,  Summit Intern Observations from February 10, 1944 Since 1932 here on the summit, an observer has gone outside once an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year to take a weather observation. In that time, we have collected nearly 81 years of data; one of the longest, continuously running climate records in the nation. This data is very important to us, as it can be used for research. Currently, intern Tom Padham is using the summits wind data to evaluate its gustiness, so that one day we

The Sound of Winter 2013-10-20 16:38:42.000 - Tom Padham,  Summit Intern Rime along the S. Presi-Ridgeline After waking up around 5:45 this morning and heading up to weather room, it seemed as if someone flicked a switch and winter had arrived overnight on the summit. Yesterday the small amount of rime ice we saw in the morning hours largely melted by the afternoon as temperatures rose above freezing and skies cleared. This morning I awoke to see our windows were covered with a new layer of ice, and even some light snow was falling. During observer Brian Fitzgerald's morning radio

Icing Season 2013-10-19 17:12:30.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Observer Mike and Intern Tom working up top. Icing season is upon us here on top of Mount Washington, and while we have been preparing for this for the past few months there is always more to do. Today Staff Meteorologist and Observer Mike Carmon and Intern Tom Padham have been busy taking care of a couple instruments ahead of some heavy icing events that we are expecting over the next few days. For a fairer-weather instruments, many have been brought inside ahead of the impending cold, while other experimental

Expo, Continued 2013-10-18 13:24:28.000 - Cyrena Briede,  Director of Summit Operations Good Morning once again from Brussels! The last day of the Meteorological Technology Expo was just as exciting as the first two, and I have had the pleasure of meeting many new instrumentation manufacturers and companies from all over the world. I have also really enjoyed being able to reconnect with ones I have met or worked with in the past. It's great how these expos and conferences can be like a reunion at times.I also gave my presentation today, introducing the Mount Washington Observatory to people from all

Meteorological Technology Expo 2013-10-17 15:18:05.000 - Cyrena Briede,  Director of Summit Operations NULL 'Bon soir' from Brussels, Belgium, where the world's largest international meteorological technology expo is currently taking place! This three day event that I am attending has brought together instrumentation manufacturers from all over the world, from the USA to the Netherlands to Korea.Everywhere you look, you see thermometers, hygrometers, anemometers, pyranometers... there are even a few other '-ometers' out there that are brand new technology!It's critical for Mount Washington Observatory to be here and stay on top of the new technologies for several reasons. For one, it's

Valley Fog and Summit Sun 2013-10-16 16:48:57.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist NULL Today was shift change day for summit staff.Our shift began the day in the valleys below, and our trip to the base of the mountain included low-hanging stratus clouds, patches of fog, and periods of drizzle. We pondered how dense the fog was atop the summit, thinking we would not be met with anything but the thick, soupy variety of fog.However, as we ascended the Auto Road, we noticed the fog was actually beginning to thin out as we approached the 4000 foot mark on the road.

Meow! 2013-10-15 17:13:11.000 - Marty,  Summit Cat Practicing My Purrrrple Steel Pose Meooow from the summit. I know it has been a while since I talked to you last, so I wanted to check in. Life on the summit is wonderful as usual and I am enjoying the tranquility of the building as the season changes. While I love the bustle of a summer's day, the fall allows me to purrrrsue some of my extra curricular activities like mousing, eating, and sleeping. Not to worry though, I still makes my rounds of the building while it is open. I wouldn't