Mount Washington Observatory Observer Blog
Notes from the “Ameri-Corner”
Notes from the “Ameri-Corner” By Amelia Gross I was lucky to arrive at Mount Washington Observatory in late May just as the last bit of snow was melting and the Sherman Adams Summit Building was opening to the public. Given the short window of time between the facilities on the summit opening and the school year ending, over a dozen field trips were squeezed into my first month as an AmeriCorps Educator. Nearly 600 students later, I gained confidence in my knowledge of extreme weather and understood I was in for a whirlwind few months here at the Obs.
100+ mph, Rime and Snow on the Summit!
100+ mph, Rime and Snow on the Summit! By Alexis George Winter-like conditions have been in full swing at Mount Washington since I first arrived on the summit last week. Summit staff enjoyed high winds on Saturday, October 12th, when winds gusted to 121 mph at the summit. Several inches of snow have fallen over the past few days, with the summit receiving 4 more inches of new snowfall just yesterday. Summit staff members took advantage of the recent snowfall and went sledding at the summit recently! The summit also commonly sees rime ice developing when below
My Fall Adventure Observing Mountain Weather
My Fall Adventure Observing Mountain Weather By Ingrid Miller Hello everyone! My name is Ingrid Miller and I am one of the fall interns at Mount Washington Observatory. I grew up in Vermont and spent many weekends hiking in the White Mountains with my family. I fell in love with the unique landscape, weather, and ecosystem. This spring I graduated from Bowdoin College with a major in Earth and Oceanographic Sciences and a minor in Visual Arts. I enjoyed learning about climate and earth processes, especially having the chance to study the ocean while in coastal Maine. I am
Snow-to-Liquid Ratio Overview
Snow-to-Liquid Ratio Overview By Charlie Peachey Collecting the Precip Can for measurements. Forecasting and measuring precipitation in the winter is often a difficult process at the summit. The thermodynamics involved with the water cycle tend to become a lot more complicated once water freezes, so it can lead to greater uncertainties in a forecast which are hard to avoid. In order to try and overcome this issue, there are typically three different steps that meteorologists take when creating a forecast: 1) Determining how much liquid water a storm is expected to bring 2) Determining what type of
A New Intern Has Appeared!
A New Intern Has Appeared! By Andrew Sullivan Hello, My name is Andrew Sullivan and I’m one of the new fall interns here at the Observatory! I am a recent graduate from Plymouth State University with a Bachelors in Meteorology. I’m from Hanson, Massachusetts (30 minutes south of Boston near Plymouth) so I’m definitely not a “local,” but going to college for 4 years in NH and frequent hiking trips/vacations in the White Mountains has made me pretty used to the environment. Obviously, that doesn’t include Mount Washington— I’ve summited the mountain 3 times before my internship, but living
Considerations for Autumn Adventurers
Considerations for Autumn Adventurers By Ryan Knapp Looking out the window, it is evident that we are heading into autumn. The plants in the alpine regions have transitioned to their earthy hues. The foliage on the mountainsides and valley floors is beginning to transition into autumn colors, which will soon paint a breathtaking picture below us. As the beauty of the autumn scenery takes shape, you might be inspired for some outdoor adventures in the weeks ahead. While autumn is a great time to explore the White Mountains, it is important to note expected changes in the weather, trail
Mount Washington Fall Almanac and a 2024 Seasonal Outlook
Mount Washington Fall Almanac and a 2024 Seasonal Outlook By Alex Branton As we move deeper into the month of September, New England’s most notorious season, fall, is nearly upon us. Reflecting on a warmer than normal and slightly wetter than normal summer in the White Mountains, folks across the region are ready for cooler temperatures and autumn colors. On Mount Washington, the atmosphere has already given us a glimpse of the season ahead with two icing events (Image 1) and our first measurable snowfall. Meteorologically, fall has already begun, with the season being defined by the months of
My Summer Internship Recap
My Summer Internship Recap By George Mousmoules It is hard to even begin to describe all that has happened in the last three months during my time at Mt. Washington. Between writing my first Higher Summits forecast, experiencing a microburst, hiking through the gorgeous scenery, watching fireworks from the tower on the 4th of July, recording a new daily record high, and so much more, it is impossible to pick a favorite moment. Each day brought a different challenge and new opportunities to advance my understanding of both meteorology and life on the summit. Taking in the Milky
Reflecting On My Summer in the Clouds
Reflecting On My Summer in the Clouds By Maya Hartley Arriving at the summit of Mount Washington for the first time ever just a couple of months ago was a moment I will never forget, and after spending 6 weeks living, working, eating, and having so much fun up here, I know that saying goodbye to the summit will be unforgettable as well. Not only have I greatly expanded my knowledge of meteorology, but I have also learned so much more about the Rockpile itself than I ever thought I would. Thanks to Alex, Charlie, and Alexis, the observers
Disaster in the Naugatuck River Valley
Disaster in the Naugatuck River Valley By Francis Tarasiewicz On the afternoon of August 18th, a roughly 31-mile swath of the Naugatuck River Valley in southwestern Connecticut experienced a generational rainfall event. Over a 6-hour period, a series of training thunderstorms brought 1 in 1000 year rainfall totals to this highly sensitive and populated watershed. The human impacts, while highly localized were no less devastating. As of the writing of this blog three fatalities have been confirmed along with dozens of swift water rescues and nearly 100 evacuations taking place during the storm. Some of the hardest hit were
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