Helicopter Visit 2012-01-19 19:03:21.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Operations Assistant Helicopter visiting the summit After a blustery day on the summit yesterday where our peak wind gust was 129 mph today proved to be the opposite. With winds below 20 mph when we arrived on the summit for our delayed shift change we were presently presented with 130 mile visibility and a clear sky. Although I love the days you can't see 20 feet in front of you and the winds are ramping up and gusting I do enjoy a scenic ride up the Mount Washington Auto Road in our Bombardier

No Shift Change? No Problem! 2012-01-18 23:27:42.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist 3-5 a.m. Wednesday Winds The cold front is long gone, but we remain here.In yesterday's comment, I was highlighting the fact that we may have some trouble with shift change today. My forecast turned out to be spot-on accurate, as the decision was made to not even attempt a shift change this morning. At the time the other shift would have been making their way to the summit in the Snow Cat, winds were averaging 90-100 mph, and gusting as high as 110 mph. Add on the fact

Wild Weather Wednesday 2012-01-18 01:06:54.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Some more wild weather is on the way!Sitting here staring at the computer models, we are currently anticipating a complicated shift change day tomorrow.A strong arctic cold front is going to blast its way through early tomorrow morning, and ramp up winds in excess of 100 mph sustained at times. Couple this with blowing snow and thick freezing fog, and things could get mighty tricky for the Snow Cat Operator.Generally speaking, poor visibility is what will force an operator to turn around. The Cat is mighty resilient, and can withstand

Weekly Weather Summary Jan. 8-14, 2012 2012-01-16 22:54:33.000 - Rick Giard,  Weather Observer / Education Specialist Weather Jan. 8-14 WEEKLY WEATHER SUMMARYJan. 8th - 14thThe top weather event this week was essentially one storm in two parts. In reality two separate systems impacted the higher summits within hours of each other. The return to more typical winter conditions continued, with no temperatures in the period above the freezing mark. Daily average temperatures were near normal early in the week, above normal at midweek, and well below normal for the weekend. Ultimately, this balanced out to near-normal overall. It appears that

Cold 2012-01-15 19:19:27.000 - Steve Welsh,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL It's certainly been cold up here the past couple of days with temperatures well below zero. Add in the strong north westerly winds and it really takes your breath away every time you step outside to take an observation. Being in the clear also means we're having to use the sling psychrometer too which is always fun in cold windy conditions - at least I get to test the latest EMS gear we received last shift change - the large Ascent Helios Down jacket is proving a winner in these

Introducing Brian Fitzgerald 2012-01-14 17:31:56.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Summit Intern A Thorough De-Icing Greetings from the summit! Today marks my first comment as an intern and also the halfway point of my first week of the summit. I'm a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where I studied Environmental Conservation, focusing in Education, and have been working in the environmental education field throughout New Hampshire from the Seacoast to the White Mountains with various non-profit organizations, including in the Appalachian Mountain Club's backcountry huts. I've been looking forward to my start on the summit with great anticipation for some

The Wind Force Factor 2012-01-13 23:44:01.000 - Rick Giard,  Weather Observer / Education Specialist Wind Kinetic Energy Folks who visit the summit for the first time are often unaware of the tremendous force with which high wind speeds can impact the body. They frequently overestimate the actual wind based on the feeling that they are being buffeted and thrown about. High wind speeds experienced for a short time can be fun and exhilarating. However, a hiker on the trail with gear, enduring the impact of high winds for a period of time, can quickly become exhausted. This is a hazard

Winter Storm Wrap-Up 2012-01-13 00:37:13.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Thank You, SE winds. Part one of the two-pronged winter storm has come to a conclusion, as the radar is currently clear throughout the state of New Hampshire.A low pressure system brought snowfall to the region today as it raced along the New England coastline. Up here on the summit, we received an estimated 6.5' of snow, with plenty of large drifts to go around thanks to accompanying winds ranging from 50-70 mph. Some additional higher snowfall totals from around NH (inches):Madison, NH: 8.5Randolph, NH: 7.8Laconia, NH: 7.0Berlin, NH: 6.5One

I'm back! 2012-01-11 23:14:11.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Forecasted Snowfall Totals Back in business.It's been a while...three weeks in fact...since I've sat in this chair and at this keyboard to give y'all my mountaintop thoughts and ruminations. As was mentioned in previous comments during my shift's last week on the summit, I was sidelined immediately following Christmas Day with a severe stomach flu that tore its way through my entire extended family. It was a trying week indeed, but I'm fully recovered now, as is the rest of my family back in New Jersey, and moving forward. Three weeks

Volunteer Week 1/4/12-1/11/12 2012-01-10 18:04:28.000 - Charlie and Jeanine Kinney,  Summit Volunteers Tomorrow is 1-11-12, the first full work week of a new year. It's also the 12th year of a new millennium. We are on the summit of My. Washington, at 6,288', and, at a quick glance, it looks like it always did. The actual summit is a collection of large stones with a post and sign stating that fact. Slightly below is a plateau, though irregular, covered with buildings, a road, and the "Cog" railroad. The road, opened in 1861, brought guests to the grand hotel on top.