Morning and Wind

2006-07-03 04:23:05.000 – Neil Lareau,  Observer

Fractured clouds are hustling across the summit and periodically revealing glimpses of bluing sky to the east and northeast. The scene reminds me of winter when such wind perterbed clouds are a more common sight. Of course if it were winter it would still be pitch black at this hour and frightfully cold. It is neither.

The sun has just now risen and the clouds have mostly dropped below the summit. The pastels of dawn, that aren’t nearly as cliché as they sound, touch on the tops of the partial undercast. The rocks are cast in relief. At the mid levels of the atmosphere strands of diffuse and barely existent clouds, which appear almost like suspended haze, undulate in wave patterns. To the southeast the back side of last nights cold front is visible.

Winds did their thing yesterday in true Mount Washington style. It had been some time since we had a good long wind event. Winds mostly sustained between 60 and 80 mph reaching a crescendo with the passage of a cold front late yesterday evening. After a brief lull, demarking the trough of low pressure that defined the front, winds leapt into the nineties topping out at 99.1mph. Not bad for July.

Walter got his first taste of a real wind. His normally curly hair was pulled perfectly straight by the wind; a funny sight.

On the topic of interns: We have decided to extend our fall internship application deadline by a week. We will now be accepting applications through July 11th. The observatory is seeking talented and motivated individuals with a passion for weather and mountains to join the summit crew for the fall season (Late August through late December). If you, or someone you know, is interested in such a position, please click here.

Neil Lareau,  Observer