Christmas on the Summit 2017-12-26 22:21:05.000 - Adam Gill, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   Here at the Observatory, we operate 24/7 so some of us have to work for the holidays. This Christmas, it was Tom Padham, Caleb Meute, and I. Christmas on the summit is a quite few days with a little less work that all of us have to do. It is a nice break from normal summit life to be able to relax a bit and enjoy the weather. This year, we got plenty of snow on Christmas with 9 inches of snow falling! In the morning, the

Snowed in at 6288' 2017-12-22 14:44:08.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   It’s already been a very snowy start to our winter season on the summit of Mount Washington, and that trend looks to continue to end out 2017. The summit was actually just over a foot (13.0”) below average for our seasonal total at the start of December, but things have quickly turned around with 60.5” of snow to date for the month, over 5 feet! December is actually our snowiest month of the year, with an average of 46” of snowfall. March and January are close seconds

Why everyone should experience life at 6288’ : A Farewell 2017-12-18 14:55:38.000 - Nicole Tallman, Summit Intern   Now I’m sure there are people out there thinking “live on a mountain...no way” and there are others thinking “sign me up! that is my dream location”. I have to say when I first began this internship I was a bit skeptical of how people can live on top of a mountain; let alone a mountain coined Home of the World’s Worst Weather. However, after 7 months of calling this mountain my home, I can confirm that this is the dream location. Figure

My Summit Vices Part 4: So Many “Vices” 2017-12-14 22:29:07.000 - Caleb Meute, Weather Observer / Meteorologist   After a quick Google search to determine what “vice” means, I had compiled a list of things that related to the definition I found on dictionary.com. Mike has since corrected me and I have rearranged my list (I was extra confused at first as to why he wanted us to write about these “vices”). Thanks for the clarification, Mike! One definition I found was “an immoral or evil habit or practice”. Supposedly, these vices could someday become immoral or “evil” if I

Rime on the Summit! 2017-12-12 12:52:24.000 - Taylor Regan, Weather Observer   Yesterday morning, during our Facebook Live weather forecast, we were asked a question regarding rime ice, which is a type of ice commonly seen on the summit. I thought I’d take a few moments to talk about what it is, where the name came from, and what is means for us weather observers who live and work on the summit of Mt. Washington. Figure 1. Rime ice beginning to form on the summit sign. The term rime has been used for centuries, and is attributed to the old

"So, When Should I Come Back?" 2017-12-11 05:27:30.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   One of the perks of being a member of the Mount Washington Observatory is the opportunity to spend a week on the summit as a volunteer. For weather enthusiasts, it can be quite exciting as a week can bring a plenitude of conditions. Dense fog one day gives way to unlimited vistas the next, calm conditions give way to hurricane force winds, thunderstorms with lightning striking summit structures, hail, heavy rainfall, and snow (even in summer months). For some, it can all be a bit

Let it Snow! 2017-12-08 08:04:56.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   With the first full week of December almost behind us it looks like winter has finally set in across Mount Washington and the White Mountains, and that means plenty of snow on the horizon! Two storm systems are set to affect the area over the next several days, resulting in the first widespread snowfall for much of the Eastern Seaboard. National radar mosaic showing snowfall occurring along the Texas-Mexico border. Image taken with permission from Weathertap.com The first system has already produced a rare snowfall for portions of

My Summit Vices Part 3: TV, Crafts, Home, and the Cat 2017-12-06 07:59:18.000 - Nicole Tallman, Summit Intern   As Mike and Adam have already hinted at, life on the summit is not always beautiful views with bluebird skies. We are quite often socked in the clouds limiting not only visibility but also the time we spend outside. When the weather cooperates it is nice to go for a hike around the summit cone, or sit on one of the many rocks of the Rockpile and take in a stunning sunset. However, there is a high demand for indoor activities

My Summit Vices Part 2: Walks, Plants, and Reddit 2017-12-04 20:54:59.000 - Adam Gill, Weather Observer/IT Specialsit   I have some similar vices up on the summit as Mike like Coffee but since that has already been stated, here are a few that I enjoy in my free time. Walks I will usually wake up an hour before my shift and go for a walk while listening to music. Usually I will do laps around the Rotunda because the sun has not come up yet and usually the weather is not too great outside to go wandering around in the

My Summit Vices, Part 1: Coffee, Tunes, and 'Flix 2017-12-02 14:17:08.000 - Mike Carmon, Senior Meteorologist & Education Specialist   We work hard 12-14 hour days (or nights) while on shift, and although our work is enjoyable and rewarding, it can also be a bit tiring. Just like most of you folks probably do, all of us up here at our summit office/home have those activities that keep us running throughout the sometimes long and foggy weeks. While they may not necessarily be considered vices, we may indulge a little too much in some of these things, which may from