Diapensia lapponica flowers in bloom near the summit on June 23.

Dear Member,

In the weeks before the 2022-23 school year came to a close, students from three schools in Coos County, NH visited Mount Washington.

They witnessed 50-mile per hour winds, snow, record-breaking warmth, sub-freezing temperatures, and surprisingly calm and clear skies. They took class photos at the summit sign, climbed to the top of the instrument tower, and came close to the sensation of standing in a hurricane on the observation deck.

For many students, this was their first visit to a mountain that is essentially in their backyard but can feel like a world away.

In his new story, A Classroom on the Tallest Peak of New England, Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Education, writes about our pilot program that provided cost-free field trips thanks to support from our summit partners and several funding sources including the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund.

Every New Hampshire student could one day have the opportunity to visit Mount Washington. We look forward to continuing field trips as part of a broader launch of school-based programs this fall. Thank you for helping the Observatory connect teachers and students with the mountain and its value to science.

Sincerely,

Drew Bush

Executive Director

JUNE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

Highest Temperature

65 °F 

Lowest Temperature

26 °F

Fastest Wind Speed

82 MPH

Precipitation

17.3 IN

Complete monthly weather data can be viewed here. 

SEEK THE PEAK

Hikers and Teams Begin Final Two Weeks of Fundraising

With the event just two weeks away, individual hikers and teams are working hard to help the Observatory raise $170,000. Top fundraising teams include The Nichols Clan, Peak Potential, Seekers, Adventures with Floki, Dodge, and the MWOBS weather observer team Cold Coworkers. There is still plenty of time to sign up and participate or or give a gift to help support other hikers and teams!

NEW TRUSTEES APPOINTED

At Mount Washington Observatory‘s Annual Meeting, held June 24 at McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux and Hayley LaPoint were appointed new trustees. Learn more about our Board of Trustees.

Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux

Dr. Dupigny-Giroux has served as the Vermont State Climatologist since 1997 and is the immediate Past President of the American Association of State Climatologists.

Hayley LaPoint

WMUR Meteorologist Hayley LaPoint grew up in Topsfield, MA and attended Lyndon State College in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Monitoring Weather Across Challenging Terrain

During our next Science in the Mountains virtual program, learn about the rugged instrumentation used to monitor intense cold, high precipitation, icing, and hurricane-force winds in the White Mountains. The Observatory‘s Keith Garrett and Jay Broccolo will present the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet on Tues., July 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Weather’s Influence on Wildfire Smoke in early June

As communities across the eastern seaboard woke up to a sunrise shrouded in smoke on June 8, air in the White Mountains remained fairly clear. In our recent Observer Comment, Weather Observer & Education Specialist Francis Tarasiewicz looks at weather’s influence on wildfire smoke. Read his blog post.

Thank you for reading this newsletter. Please send any feedback via email. Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research and educational institution. Our work in mountain meteorology and climate science relies on your financial support. Consider advancing our mission with a donation today.

Thank you to our sponsors…