One Windy Day 2018-04-05 14:20:11.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Although not quite the storm I was hoping for, the storm that has affected the summit over the past 24 hours has still been very impressive due to the duration of our high winds. For 10 hours straight we observed winds equivalent to a category 3 hurricane (111 mph or greater), with 16 consecutive hours of 100 mph or greater winds. Despite the long duration of winds of this magnitude, our peak gust from the storm was “only” 120 mph, meaning these were extremely steady, but very strong

1855 Days at 6288 Feet 2018-03-31 16:38:13.000 - Mike Carmon, Senior Meteorologist & Education Specialist   All good things must come to an end. On July 30, 2008 I arrived at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road at 8:30AM for the very first time. I had just been contacted by the Observatory one week prior in response to my submitted application for a summit internship. One week later, here I was for an in-person interview in an awe-inspiring place I'd never laid eyes on before. A true fish out of water. A ride up the Auto Road and

Ozone Levels 2018-03-29 09:41:27.000 - Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern   You may have heard about the current ozone levels in the news or in our forecasts. You may think “What is ozone”? or “What are they basing this level off of”? Well, I am here today to explain what the ozone is, what scale is used to determine what the ozone level is, and what you can do to limit your exposure when the ozone level is high. What is the ozone? Ozone is a highly reactive gaseous molecule that consists of three oxygen atoms. Ozone occurs naturally in the

The Return of Sunrise 2018-03-26 17:19:14.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   Working nights on the summit, my shift typically starts at 1730 EST (1830EDT) and ends at 0530 EST (0630 EDT) the following morning. I don’t mind this shift, in fact, I prefer the night shift. However, it does have a few drawbacks, one of them being the lack of sunshine. This is especially true from late October through early March when the sun rises after my shift ends and sets before my shift begins again. During this time period, if I want to view a sunrise, sunset,

Winter Hiking Hazards: Cornices 2018-03-25 14:24:25.000 - Taylor Regan, Weather Observer   From our perch atop New England, summit staff are often treated to some pretty neat views. On a crystal clear day, these views extend for 130 miles, as far away as Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks to our west and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Today though, I want to talk about a phenomenon spotted just a few miles from us on the summit, and that is a snow cornice.   First off, what is a snow cornice and how does it form?

Vernacular Confusion 2018-03-23 12:16:16.000 - Sarah Schulte, Summit Intern   “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride The field of meteorology is chock-full of terminology, and these terms are used by a wide variety of meteorologists. Researchers, observers, broadcasters…they all have a need to get their information out to their audience. Because of the wide variety of weather professionals and the even wider variety of the audiences with whom they communicate, it’s easy for those unfamiliar with the vernacular to use the words incorrectly. Since

Springtime on the Rockpile 2018-03-22 06:39:35.000 - Bill Ofsiany, Summit Volunteer   Spring on the Rockpile is fickle, With high warm sun and bright snow, But the cold strong winds of winter are here, That push windchills to twenty below.  It seems that whoever makes weather, Isn't sure which direction to go, Some days are calm, warm and sunny, Just as often there's low temps and snow.  But those days get fewer and fewer, And winter ice gets transformed into slush, And rivers of meltwater flow down the trails, Turning bare spots to bootsucking mush.  The cold is still in

What is a nor'easter? 2018-03-17 10:15:50.000 - Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern   You may have heard the term ‘nor’easter’ used in the news or from our forecasts during the past couple months. You might think “We get storms all the time. But what exactly would define a storm as being a nor’easter?” That is what I will be talking about in this blog post. The Weather Channel defines a nor’easter as a “strong area of low pressure along the East Coast of the United States that typically features winds from the northeast off the Atlantic Ocean”. They are a result

Response to a Common Question 2018-03-12 21:59:41.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   In the 12+ years I have worked on the summit, the most common inquiry I have had to answer via email, direct messaging, social media comments, or otherwise is some iteration of, “I plan to hike/visit Mt. Washington on so-and-so day. What’s the weather forecast for that day? And what would be the easiest trail on the mountain?” While I know I will likely have to answer this a few more times over the course of 2018 (and beyond) I figured I would share my response

March - In Like a Lion... 2018-03-10 15:25:18.000 - Taylor Regan, Weather Observer   As I write this blog post, winds outside are howling at hurricane-force, whipping up nearly a foot of newly fallen (and still falling) snow and hurling it through the air, just one element of the summit milieu that both deprives and overstimulates the senses. The ground rumbles underfoot and cold seeps in relentlessly through even the warmest layers. The ground and sky cease to maintain their autonomy and blend seamlessly into an ever constricting blanket of milky white: visibility is down to inches. Tumultuous eddies of