Winter, anyone?

2012-04-09 15:38:04.000 – Brian Fitzgerald,  Summit Intern

Marty looking on, waiting for the snow to end.

And now an update on day four of our shift week now named ‘operation low pressure system wandering aimlessly across New England.’

Okay, so let me explain. Since Friday a low pressure system has worked itself backwards- that’s right, backwards, from north of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and has trailed southwestward toward Quebec, slowly deepening and intensifying. The result: consistent winds from the northwest in the 50 to 70 MPH range, constant thick fog and moderate snow now totaling 15.9 inches and counting (since it’s still snowing moderately as I write this) and very poor visibility due to fog and blowing/drifting snow. Did I mention this weather should persist for at least the next 36 hours as well?

As some of you might recall, last week we were able to drive all the way to the summit in our four-wheel-drive van with chains in about 30 minutes or so on a completely snow-free road. This upcoming shift-change on Wednesday will be a different story however, as our Snowcat will be back in action, plowing upper portions of the Auto Road due to likely massive snow drifts.

So just in case anyone felt a little short-changed on winter this year, don’t worry, there’s plenty of it up here to go around.

Brian Fitzgerald,  Summit Intern