Mesonet Expansion Advances Weather Monitoring Capabilities in Northern New England

By Ellen Estabrook

Five new remote weather monitoring stations went live November 21 along the Mount Washington Cog Railway, on the western side of New England’s highest peak.

The expansion of the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet (MWRM) kicks off a broader project to enhance weather monitoring in the White Mountains and across New Hampshire. During the next four years, 11 original stations in the MWRM will be modernized, and the network will be expanded to more than 36 stations, with plans to broaden the mesonet into a statewide monitoring network.  

The Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) project is made possible by a Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst Grant, funding from the Cog Railway, and support from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, and the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. 

Below is a map view of the new weather stations. View all current and planned locations here. 

A mesonet is a network of autonomous remote weather stations. Each station in the MWRM is essentially a tripod affixed with instruments to measure meteorological data like temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed and direction. Keith Garrett, MWOBS Director of Technology, has played a pivotal role in not only launching these new stations but also maintaining the network as a whole (learn more about the technology and installation by reading this recent article by Garrett.) 

Data from each station transmits in real-time to mountwashington.org via solar-powered radio links; it is also now available live on the website’s Current Summit Conditions page.

In a mountain environment, stations need to withstand the frequent combination of intense cold, high precipitation amounts, icing, and hurricane-force winds. Due to these challenges, the MWRM employs rugged instrumentation, an innovative radio-communications relay approach, and carefully selected sites that balance ideal measuring environments with station survivability. While data is collected continuously, transmission may not be possible if prolonged foul weather has prevented sufficient power generation.

This data is used operationally by forecasters (including MWOBS and National Weather Service staff) to validate weather model guidance, and is also used by alpine and climate scientists, recreationalists accessing conditions in the backcountry, groups operating on the mountain (Cog Railway and Mt. Washington Auto Road), search and rescue organizations, and others. 

“This additional data is going to help with weather forecasts and predictions in the White Mountains,” explains Charlie Peachey, MWOBS Weather Observer and IT Specialist. “The more we can understand the local weather patterns of the mountains and Presidential Mountain Range, the more we can use it to inform future forecasts and the general public.” 

Findings from the vertical profile of remote stations on the east side of Mount Washington along the Mt. Washington Auto Road, which have been collecting data for about 20 years, can now be extended to the west side of the mountain with the new Cog Railway vertical profile.

The new data allows for assessment and comparison across Mount Washington, improving understanding of lower atmospheric storm dynamics and how systems interact with the complex terrain of the White Mountains. 

“The prevailing winds at the summit are predominantly out of the west and northwest, so all of our weather patterns tend to come in from that direction,” Peachey continues. “If we can get the data on how the weather coming in is changing from the weather as it’s leaving on the eastern side of the mountain, it will also help with forecasting and decision making.” 

The new stations provide increased coverage and data resolution, allowing weather observers to better understand how mountains disturb the atmosphere and influence regional weather.

“With this enhanced network, we’ll gain a clearer picture of the localized weather patterns that define Mount Washington’s extreme conditions,” explains Jay Broccolo, MWOBS Director of Weather Operations. 

Broccolo also notes a wider application to other mountain ranges in the Northeast: “The data would be useful from an elevation standpoint to have direct measurements of atmospheric conditions within storms and to get a vertical understanding rather than a horizontal, map view perspective, though this data will be included as well.”  

These unique insights not only inform MWOBS forecasts and provide detailed data for the National Weather Service and National Mesonet Program; they also deliver actionable data for businesses and communities across the state to plan operations and future investments.  

“The expansion of the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet system is a significant step forward in monitoring and understanding the complex weather patterns of the White Mountains and their impact on the broader New England region,” says Janel Lawton, Director of New Hampshire’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development. 

“By providing real-time data, this system enhances weather forecasts, offering businesses and communities valuable insights for planning operations, managing risks, and preparing for extreme weather events. Key industries such as outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality — critical to the regional economy — depend on accurate weather data to make informed decisions. With improved storm tracking, weather prediction, and climate monitoring, this new infrastructure will help drive smarter investments, strengthen economic resilience, and support sustainable growth throughout the region.” 

On November 21, representatives from county, state, and federal government, the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, the Northern Border Regional Commission, business and nonprofit organizations, and media outlets met at the Cog Railway’s Marshfield Base Station to cut the ribbon on the five new weather stations along the railway’s vertical profile. 

Continuous weather monitoring at the summit of Mount Washington and the surrounding region is critical in maintaining MWOBS’s over-90 year dataset, one of the longest continuous weather records in North America. To support our team’s work in weather discovery and research, please consider supporting our nonprofit with a gift today.