Temperature Differences

2012-08-06 00:09:08.000 – Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist

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On a personal note, I’ve been off the mountain until today because on Friday, I underwent LASIK eye surgery. I’m happy to say that everything went very well, and today I came up the mountain to finish off the rest of this shift.

Now, this is my sixth summer spent working on Mount Washington. Although summer is not my favorite season, both here on the mountain and in the valley, I have always enjoyed the noticeable and significant difference between the temperatures at the base of the road and at the summit. That difference was particularly noticeable today when I drove up the mountain today. When I parked my car at our Maintenance Garage, my car thermometer read somewhere in the low 80’s, and it was very humid. Although I felt way over-dressed at the base, I obviously knew that I wouldn’t be once I reached the summit. Sure enough, as I emerged from the Observatory truck parked next to the Cog tracks on the summit, I was met by a brisk breeze and temperatures in the mid to upper 50’s.

With the passage of a cold front tonight, winds will shift to a more west and northwesterly direction later tonight and tomorrow morning, making for even more refreshing temperatures in the mid 40’s. I’m definitely looking forward to it!

Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist