Belt of Venus... 2006-09-05 07:50:30.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer Undercast and Earth Shadow... I don't always like surprises, but even at 4:30 in the morning, a knock on the bedroom door doesn’t necessarily mean bad things at the Observatory. Sure sometimes, especially in winter, the late night wrap usually mean an instrument has failed and you have to go from deep sleep to -100F windchills, but these times are rare. Given the morning forecast when I went to bed though, I couldn’t rationalize why they were waking me up this morning. “Jim … Undercast” was the only message I needed

Roving Technical Observer 2006-09-04 05:47:20.000 - Jon Cotton,  Observer Window Sill Visitors... Since last December I have been working for the Observatory - and a good portion has been on the summit. I believe this is my second comment written in all that time. Back last winter when I was announcing my job to family and friends many of them were excited that I'd be writing comments. I disappointed...time to change that. It will be a personal transformation that an English major can be proud of. I'll share my thoughts and impressions. Why not?Because now I have observer type things

Ernesto and the sundogs... 2006-09-02 14:46:45.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer Ernesto Thus far, Ernesto has behaved as forecasted in the White Mountains, leaving summits mainly free of fog with a high overcast. We still expect these clouds to lower and thicken, putting the peak back into the fog, and with a chance of rain moving in overnight and for tomorrow.Until the rain arrives, the summit crew will likely continue to enjoy one of the many spectacular skyscape phenomena that usually precedes tropical systems. As background, I must state a rather surprising fact. The very tops of tropical systems, those that

Misty mountain top, and an ernesto update! 2006-09-01 08:15:59.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer Misty Mountain Top... I’m quite sure that everyone with outdoor plans in the White Mountains this weekend has their weather eyes fixed to the south, squarely on Ernesto. Already the peak is seeing some effects, as high clouds are streaming in from the southeast, and these will likely thicken up through the day. High clouds shouldn’t ruin anyone’s plans, the sun will surely be shining through. The question remains though…will it rain out the weekend, or will it move west? How long can this strong high pressure

Undercast Sunrise 2006-08-31 04:32:36.000 - Tim Markle,  Chief Observer Yesterday Sometimes it can be tough to get yourself out of bed at 4:30am and head upstairs to start your shift. However, there are those mornings in which you don't mind having to endure waking at such an early hour, if it means knowing a spectacular sight awaits you as you step outside for your first observation. Yesterday morning was one of those mornings. A relatively calm wind, brisk temperatures, and a blanket of clouds below made for a fine sunrise. In fact it was the kind of sunrise you wake

2006-08-28 11:11:46.000 - Rick Comeau,  Teacher Extern Over the last five weeks I have thought a lot about perspective. Perspective as it applies to weather phenomenon. I’d like to share a few perspectives from my observations and experiences during my externship at the MWO.Below, we usually look up at the clouds. On the summit, we often look across at clouds and more accurately we are often IN the clouds. Below, fog often appears motionless; fog is fog and seems to just hang in our presence. On the summit, fog magically moves with the motion of air, up and over the

The Birds 2006-08-27 04:35:22.000 - Tim Markle,  Chief Observer Sunset Through the Clouds It was about 16 months ago that I posted a comment about a few feathered friends that decided to stop at the Observatory windows for an overnight visit. Well...they’re back!!! Okay, maybe they are not the same birds, but nonetheless a few birds perched themselves on the window sills last night. In fact, as I write this there are still two of them hoping back and forth at the bottom of the windows. It is nice to have some company during the lonely overnight hours!The overnight hours

Lingering Clouds 2006-08-26 04:19:17.000 - Tim Markle,  Chief Observer Morning Moose Light winds and ample moisture have kept clouds around the summit for much of yesterday and into the early morning hours this morning. A slot of dry air late last night did provide for some nice stargazing, but returning clouds put a damper on that. Now that twilight is breaking on the eastern horizon it is easier to see the clouds still lingering around the mountains and the fog enshrouding the valleys below.The low clouds did break in just the right place for me to sneak a peek at

Morning and observations 2006-08-24 18:30:03.000 - Neil Lareau,  Observer This morning:Anti-crepuscular rays seemingly emanate from Littleton. Somewhat more ordinary crepuscular rays streak down from the clouds to the east. Clouds trade places, back and forth, with clear air for occupancy of the summit. The visibility alternates between 100 feet and 100 miles. The air is crisp, 32.4F. Altocumulus moves by overhead in various undulations and deformations (later in the day I will actually get to classify one formation as altocumulus undulatus radiatus). Fog hugs the river valleys. The birches have a late summer yellowing green that has started to distinguish

2006-08-22 14:07:38.000 - Summit Crew,  Mount Washington Observatory A lot going on at the summit today, but not much weatherwise, so I’m merely directing you to another source for your daily mountain fix today. On our last shift, a group of reporters from the Hartford Courrant were up to write a piece on “a day in the life of the mountain.” They also took a lot of video, and pieced together a pretty good virtual tour.Follow this link to the article, and click here for the videos!   Summit Crew,  Mount Washington Observatory