Fun with Stats 2011-10-05 22:45:58.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist NULL The all-time record low for the month of October on the summit is a chilly -5F.The all-time record high for the month of October on the summit is a balmy 62F.That's a spread of 67 degrees F for the month. Does that sound extreme to you?The following may surprise you (perhaps not, if you are aware in any way about the abruption with which weather shifts course on Mt. Washington): this spread, when compared with the other 12 months of the year, is actually quite average. In fact, it

Volunteer Reflections 2011-10-04 17:31:46.000 - Lowell Williams,  Summit Volunteer NULL Mount Washington, like any other geologic formation, is millions and millions of years old. Its memories are inscribed on the landscape in a language that we struggle to understand. So, we develop geology to study the mountain's rocks and meteorology to understand the mountain's weather. Sometimes bound up in technology, it's still a natural communication we engage in, like talking to an old friend and reminiscing about our shared past or speculate about the future. That's one reason why we love places like Mount Washington. It's a natural signpost; when

Learning Experience 2011-10-03 22:38:38.000 - Erin Diveny,  Summit Museum Supervisor While working at the observatory this summer, I've really been wanting to learn a lot more about meteorology. For those of you who read my comment back in June, I mentioned how I used to think I was going to go to school for meteorology back when I was 15 and used to come up to the mountain yearly for tours. Well, that ended up not happening, but I still love meteorology and the Observatory, which is how I ended up working here. Finally, as I started classes this fall

Another foggy day on the "Rock Pile" 2011-10-02 19:08:39.000 - Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist It's a rainy and foggy day with the wind coming from the East and temperatures about 10 degrees above average for the day here on the "Rock Pile" however that doesn't stop people from all over the world from coming to visit. I had the opportunity to host a couple of tours today and on one I had a gentleman all the way from Australia. Observatory tours are one of the benefits that Mount Washington Observatory offers to all that help to support our Educational

I know it's pronounced foliage and not foilage. 2011-10-01 18:42:00.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Color along the Mt Washington Auto Road. So far this week, two analogies come to mind. The first deals with the fall color change. During our down-going shift change, we all noted how much the color had changed in our week on top. There were a few yellows and a lot of oranges and reds. And when I got home, I could see the changes around Berlin, NH as well. But as the week off progressed, the amount of change seemed less noticeable. It may

A warm week 2011-09-30 23:35:37.000 - Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL It hasn't felt much like late September lately. By that, I mean it's been much warmer this time of year than we would typically expect it to be. In fact, it's been running about 10 or more degrees above average for the last week or so. This means that instead of temperatures being the in 30's, they've been in the 40's and even into the 50's at times. Oddly enough, my hometown of State College, PA will be colder tomorrow then we will here. Some of the ridge

Today is my day! 2011-09-29 18:48:50.000 - David Narkewicz,  Summit Intern NULL September 29th, which happens to be today, is a very special day for me. What is a day that happens once a year for each individual? A birthday and today is mine! When I was younger my birthdays were spent with my family and friends celebrating with a special meal of my choice, cake, and presents. In my college years my family and I had to celebrate through the telephone. Today has opened up a new chapter in my birthday experiences. I got to do something that most

Volunteer Comment 2011-09-28 15:26:19.000 - Tess Dana & Dorothy Papadakos,  Summit Volunteers Here's to our fabulous crew! Steve, Rick, Mike, Kevin & Erin, you really made us feel the magic & wonder of the wind & the weather and gave us 5 warm sunny days out of 7!! (Is that some kind of Summit record?!) Your excitement and knowledge were infectious and inspiring. We're thrilled you enjoyed our dinners and didn't criticize our desserts like Chef Ramsey!!(We never did figure out high altitude baking . . .) What a neat experience to have the Summit as our Home Base after

Why is the sky blue? 2011-09-26 19:41:11.000 - Kevin Cronin,  Summit Intern Tonight's Sunset from the MWO Before I jump into my explanation I want to give a background of electromagnetic radiation. Every object emits and absorbs radiation. You can think of radiation as the output of energy that an object produces. The greater the energy, the smaller the wavelength an object generates. The sun emits within the shorter wavelengths due to the immense amount of energy it radiates. The human body emits at a much lower energy level and creates longer wavelengths called infrared radiation. Infrared radiation cannot be

Summit Foliage Pyrotechnics 2011-09-25 18:04:15.000 - Rick Giard,  Weather Observer / Education Specialist Summit Plant Life Ready for Winter This past Friday, on the occasion of the Autumnal Equinox, I was interviewed on The Weather Channel live from the summit. The main topic of discussion was the state of fall foliage at Mount Washington and in the northern New Hampshire region. Does it seem a bit ironic that a meteorologist high atop a rocky, treeless peak engulfed in clouds could be interviewed about foliage? With the nearest visible deciduous trees thousands of feet below, and fog/clouds obscuring the peaks to