Warmth Returns

2011-11-08 00:11:12.000 – Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist

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The warmth is back!

Warmth with respect to early November on the summit of Mt. Washington, that is.After a chilly start to the shift more indicative of late November, temperatures have rebounded once again (as per usual with our shift), with the mercury hitting a balmy 41 degrees F during the wee hours of Monday morning. Currently, a weak cold front is passing through, which has brought conditions back down to earth a little, with the mercury hovering just above the freezing mark, and winds gusting up to 80 mph.

However, the ridge that provided the valleys and higher summits with an extended stretch of nice weather this past weekend will build back in for the Tuesday through Thursday timeframe, and as a result, temperatures will have a difficult time dropping below freezing until Friday. That is hardly November on Mt. Washington.

The snow pack that was nearly a foot deep when we arrived has diminished by about half, and will continue to do so for the next few days. The white-capped mountains that were beheld from the valley in recent weeks will return to a rockier hue as the feeble snow pack most likely dwindles to scattered patches of ice in between the rocks.

With this stretch of mild weather, our shift will most certainly retain the title of warm weather shift for yet another week. No matter though, as the distinction we truly covet for the coming winter months is the windy shift.

That title is yet to be determined.

Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist