The Northern Lights captured by Charlie Peachey on June 2.

Dear *{{Informal Name}}*,

Every year, we gather for Mount Washington Observatory’s Annual Meeting. Your time, dedication, and generosity make this possible. And this year we celebrated a turning point in our organization.

Over the past year, we’ve expanded our forecasting from the White Mountains to extend throughout the Granite and Green Mountain states—your support literally translated into statewide forecasts that keep millions of people safe.

At our meeting on Saturday, May 31 at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH, we talked about this new effort along with the work we’ve done to substantially repair our weather station, invest in cutting-edge technology, grow our impact through partnerships, and inspire thousands of school-age children. You can catch up on all of this by reading my blog post about the meeting as well as our new 2025 Annual Report and growing list of supporters.

In the coming days, we’ll join NH Gives from 5:00 PM on June 10 to 5:00 PM on June 11. Thanks to two generous donors, we can match all gifts made to the Observatory, up to $17,500, during this 24 hours of giving. Please help us earn each dollar of these matching gifts by giving generously as you are able. Visit our NH Gives page on June 10 HERE. 

Then get set for our quarter-century celebration of Seek the Peak on July 18-19! We’re going big, with a huge party that involves more gear companies, giveaways, prizes, and fun for the family than ever before. We’ll even have a catered BBQ meal, drinks from two breweries, live music, and a rock-climbing wall. I hope you’ll join us to hike and raise funds or even just to celebrate.

Thank you so very much for all you do for the Observatory. We’re succeeding in our mission to become a true resource in weather science research and learning. And it’s all thanks to your support.

Sincerely,

Drew Bush, Ph.D

Executive Director

MAY WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

Highest Temperature

58°F 

Lowest Temperature

20°F

Fastest Wind Speed

98 MPH

Precipitation

13.97 IN

Complete monthly weather data can be viewed here. Check the Higher Summits Forecast for an extended weather outlook, and tune in to our Weekend Higher Summits Forecast discussion live on Facebook every Friday at 5:00 PM EST.

RETAIL CORNER

Shop the NEW Burgeon Outdoor

Seek the Peak Highlander Hoodie

We’re excited to launch the exclusive Burgeon Outdoor x Seek the Peak Highlander Hoodie in celebration of our 25th Anniversary event! 50% of the profits from this hoodie will benefit Seek the Peak. Plus, the top 25 Seek the Peak fundraisers will score these as a prize!

RESEARCH INSIGHTS

Climatology of Upslope Snow on Mount Washington

Peter Edwards gives a summit weather station tour to a group of visitors.

This winter, intern Peter Edwards completed a 20-year climatology of upslope snowfall events on Mount Washington. His analysis identified over 250 events from 2005-2025, defined by post-frontal low-level northwesterly flow and no major synoptic support. The study revealed modest increases in both event frequency and intensity, with ERA5 composites characterizing the atmospheric setup for these localized snowfalls. You can learn more about Peter’s research on our intern research projects page and in his presentation.

SUMMIT SNAPSHOT

Winter Internships Wrap Up as

Summer Interns Arrive

High School intern Penelope (left) and AMC/MWOBS intern Frank hold rime ice on the observation deck during sunset on May 26. Stay tuned as we introduce our summer interns in the coming weeks!

OBS UPDATE

Partnering with Forest Service Trailhead Steward Program to Promote Safe Decision-Making

Summit Weather Operations Manager Mike Carmon, pictured, recently joined John Marunowski, White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) Partnership and Volunteer Coordinator, at this year’s Trailhead Steward Training to review our Higher Summits Forecasts, Current Conditions page, and resources like our texting service, to help support their important work in preventative search and rescue during peak visitor season. We are excited to have WMNF Trailhead Stewards join us on Friday, July 18 at Tuckerman Brewing for the Seek the Peak Kick-Off Party to continue this collaboration!

EDUCATION NEWS

A Few Spots Remain for Peak Perspectives Professional Development

Educators conducting weather observations on the summit in June 2024.

Our summer professional development program for formal and informal K-12 educators, Peak Perspectives, has just a few spots remaining. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 9: Please share this with any teachers you know that might be interested!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dine-to-Donate at Wildflower Inn Restaurant 

If you’re in Vermont today, join the MWOBS team at The Wildflower Inn Restaurant and Pub in Lyndonville, VT from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM! A portion of all proceeds will be donated to support our work in weather and climate science, and our staff will be on-hand to make special presentations on our 25th Annual Seek the Peak, hand out information to hikers, hold raffles, and giveaway free gear.

Third Annual LimmerFest

The Third Annual LimmerFest, hosted by our partner Peter Limmer & Sons, takes place this weekend! Join us for a weekend of hiking and history as we celebrate both National Trails Day and the legacy of Limmer Boots.

Today, Saturday, June 7, MWOBS staff members will be tabling at Ledge Brewing Company from 2:30 to 6:00 PM with fun giveaways following the day’s group hike outings. There will be live music, Limmer Boots giveaways, and more. Visit the LimmerFest event page here for more information.

Outdoor Industry Day

On Tuesday, June 10 at 2:00 PM, join Granite Outdoor Alliance and New Hampshire’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) at Manchester’s Veteran’s Memorial Park for a historic press conference recognizing our state’s thriving outdoor industry. Following the press conference, attendees can explore the Rock City Vendor Village, a pop-up showcasing local outdoor brands and partners from 3-6 pm. Enjoy food, music, activities and giveaways. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Attend for FREE via this link. We hope to see you there!

Dine-to-Donate at North Conway Flatbread Pizza 

Join Seek the Peak Steward and Team Captain Ryan Shepard at Flatbread Pizza Company in North Conway, NH from 5:00 to 9:00 PM on Thursday, June 19 to learn about our 25th anniversary hike-a-thon, ways to get involved, and win prizes while supporting his team, Fire on the Mountain. A portion of all dine-in and takeout proceeds will go towards their fundraising goal in support of the Observatory’s work in weather and climate science. Stop by their new location on White Mountain Highway in North Conway, NH!

 Seek the Peak: 1/2 Off Registration Through 6/30!

The 25th AnniversarySeek the Peak is just six weeks away! Celebrate outdoor adventure with the annual hike-a-thon and Après Hike Expo on July 18-19 featuring live music, rock climbing wall, outdoor brands, great food, and much more. Registration is just $25 now through 6/30! All hikers are invited to register, earn gear, and join together in raising vital funds to support MWOBS’s forecasting, research, and educational programs. Sign up as an individual or create your team today. All donations will be doubled this month, up to $20,000, making your support go the extra distance.

SEEK THE PEAK UPDATE

Meet MWOBS’ Staff Fundraising Teams

Our staff have created their own fundraising teams this year for Seek the Peak, and in keeping with tradition, they have embarked on some friendly competition. Learn more in our new blog post, and consider donating to one of their teams to support their work!

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Wildly Responsible

Wildly Responsible is a state program educating the public on how to safely and responsibly engage with the New Hampshire outdoors while preserving its wilderness for generations to come. Think of being Wildly Responsible as a call to action—a promise we all make to each other and to nature.

IN THE NEWS

A Journey Into the Obs Archives with Vibe Magazine

In the Spring 2025 issue of Mt Washington Valley Vibe, MWOBS Curator Dr. Peter Crane, with the assistance of Karen MacDonald, present a curated selection of photography and other archival material from the Gladys Brooks Memorial Library, part of a comprehensive digitization of the collection.

Other highlights in the issue: A spotlight on the continuing legacy of Peter Limmer & Sons,  Assessing Spring Risks in Tuckerman Ravine with the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, and a feature on local students shining at the MWV Youth Stem Expo.

Other Recent Stories about our Work

• High School Intern Penelope was interviewed by WMUR alongside Weather Observer Alex Branton as the team removed glaze ice from the summit instruments on May 20.
• CBS Boston shared  Alex Branton’s photo of a wintry scene of ice accumulations on the summit on May 20.
• The Boston Globe, WMUR, and WBZ shared Weather Observer Charlie Peachey’s June 2 photo of the northern lights (also featured at the top of this email).
• Writer Michael McLaughlin highlights the Observatory’s visitor experience in Group Tour Magazine’s roundup of recommended planetariums and observatories in the Northeast.