Remembering an imporant record 2010-01-30 16:54:37.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer and Meteorologist NULL Of course, the big news in the last week has been the new world record wind speed that dethroned our 231 mph wind gust and moved it to second place. We have gotten tons of calls from various media outlets and there have been countless articles and blog entries posted on the internet about the topic. With all this hoopla, it was easy to overlook the passing of the anniversary of another important record in the long history of the Mount Washington Observatory yesterday.On January 29, 1934

Internship to a close 2010-01-29 23:56:36.000 - Andrew Foley and Kyle Itterly,  Plymouth State Intern Sunset on our last night As our last night on the summit is drawing to a close we reflect back upon our amazing experience as interns at the summit. We have seen every varying degree of weather we so hoped to see during our 14 day winter internship. From balmy temperatures of 25F with calm winds and unlimited visibility to a peak 104.5mph gust, no visibility and wind chills as low as 70 below. Our first trip came with a strong winter storm that disappointed

Hedda Returns to a wintery Summit! 2010-01-28 11:31:16.000 - Hedda Peterson,  Former Intern Eastern Snowfields Five months have passed since my last visit to the summit. Having worked as an intern last summer I was eager to experience the mountain in its other, less familiar element: winter. I just finished the first semester of my junior year at the University of Vermont, most of which was spent with my head bent over an open text book in our not so cozy library. However, one overnight visit to the Observatory has been an excellent reward. In the last 24 hours I

NULL 2010-01-26 20:02:35.000 - Cara Rudio,  Marketing and Communications Coordinator Not such a g'day, mate! For once, the big news on Mount Washington isn't our extreme weather.Sadly, it's about how our extreme weather--our world record wind speed, to be exact--was outdone by that of a warm, tropical island...According to a report released Friday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a new world record wind speed was recorded on April 10, 1996 at an unmanned station in Barrow Island, Australia during Typhoon Olivia. According to the report, the new record stands at 253 mph, far surpassing the Observatory's record of 231

Trip Promo 2010-01-26 17:34:26.000 - Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist Mt. Washington Summit Have you ever wanted to visit the summit of Mt. Washington in the winter? Why wait? Our winter EduTrip program allows you to visit the Observatory overnight during the extreme weather winter months, when the summit building is closed to the general public. Your trip includes a snow tractor ride up and down the Mt. Washington Auto Road, home cooked meals, and the opportunity to learn about mountain-related topics such as climatology, glacial geology, mountaineering, and even the challenges of cooking at high altitudes! Also, you'll meet the

Marty here 2010-01-25 23:40:31.000 - Marty,  Summit Cat Can I help you? Meow!Guess who...it's your favorite summit cat, Marty, with a few of my deep and distinguished thoughts (translated by Mike, my second-favorite observer). I wanted Steve (the one with the accent) to interpret, but he wouldn't give me the time of day! Since I last checked in with all of you wonderful, adoring fans, there have been some changes amidst my summit domain.Those interns Mary Ellen and Will are gone. I especially miss Mary Ellen, because she used to keep MY spot on the couch toasty warm. But now

Impending Ice 2010-01-24 18:14:09.000 - Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist NULL Although this is not meant to be a forecast discussion, it will probably sound awfully like one to y'all.As I sat composing this string of thoughts this afternoon, clouds (some of them lenticular) were quickly thickening and lowering all around the summit. We are gearing up for a 24 hour visit from a massive storm system beginning tonight. We've been fortunate enough to enjoy a phase of calm, clear weather since we emerged from the fog on Thursday morning. We have reported a visibility of at least 100 miles for

God bless Canada. 2010-01-23 17:39:51.000 - Drew Hill,  Summit Intern Sublimation sculpts sinewy rime at sunset. I love Canada.Don't get me wrong, I'm a bonafide American-- a patriot with a capital ''P''-- but this Canadian high pressure system has got me singing the highest praises for the maple leaves. As anyone who has been in New England these past couple of days already knows, this warm, dry airmass has brought us several picture-perfect days. You'd think I'd be uncomfortable with beyond-100-yard visibility and wind chills that average above zero, but I'm enjoying it. Thoroughly.Thursday began with a sunrise that was

NULL 2010-01-22 17:02:03.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer and Meteorologist arctic dunes It doesn't get much better than this! It is the kind of day that lures observers and interns out of the building and into the bright sunshine. Temperature rose to a balmy 25 degrees and winds diminished to a mere whisper. I went out just after noon. I started down the Mount Washington Auto Road (well, you can't really see the road anymore. It's more akin to an un-groomed ski slope). I walked to just above the Cow Pasture and basked in the warmth of the seemingly arctic desert.

NULL 2010-01-21 11:19:46.000 - Stacey Kawecki,  Observer and Meteorologist not quite leaning tower of rime A little more than twelve hours ago Mike and I were convinced that we would witness the sun rising today. In the long history of blown forecasts on Mount Washington, this one will merely take its rightful place as the most recent. For once, our weather is more boring than every where else in the continental United States. It is raining and snowing out west, where such weather is unusual. There are thunderstorms in the Florida panhandle, and in New England high pressure is building