May Sunset

2011-05-19 23:19:11.000 – Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist

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The reliable unreliability of Mt. Washington provided us with quite a treat this evening.

Looking at the models during the forecasting process in the wee hours of Thursday morning, I did not even think twice about predicting the summit would be in the fog for the entirety of the day. However, in the mountain’s infinite incomparability and unpredictability, the fog inexplicably cleared during the early afternoon hours, revealing an impressive undercast below, with several layers of clouds outlining the skies overhead.

‘This won’t last’ I thought to myself, a notion perhaps doubling as a plea to Mother Nature. Last it did, though, up until sunset time–at a seemingly tardy hour of just past 8 p.m. EDT. Instead of hauling up in front of the television as our shift normally does when the weather is less than kind, I descended the tower stairs after my opening observation of the night to find a couple members of the crew outside of the submarine door, breathing in the waning light of the lengthy day.

Little by little, our entire shift made their way to the rocks on the western edge of the summit, witnessing as the mid-May sun gently sunk against the backdrop of a sky steadily coloring itself in. The fog would periodically remind us who’s boss, drifting faintly in and out of view at times, but ultimately faded as the evening show was reaching its pinnacle.

If this serene and placid experience was the unfailing result of a busted forecast, I’ll gladly be served that slice of humble pie more often.

Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist