adm_mwobs, Author at Mount Washington Observatory

February 2022 by the Numbers

2022-03-07 11:42:52.000 – Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

March has arrived, so it’s a perfect time to look back and summarize February. A few words I would use to summarize February’s weather conditions on the summit are warm, foggy, and windy. Let’s look back at some of the stats for the month.

Our average temperature for the month was 8.1°F (-13.3°C), which is 2.2°F above the 1991-2020 30-year climate normal for our station. Our warmest temperature recorded in February was 38°F (3°C), occurring on Feb. 18. Our coldest temperature recorded during the month was -24°F (-31°C) on Feb. 14.

In terms of total liquid equivalent precipitation (the liquid collected from rain and by melting the freezing and frozen precipitation types collected after measuring their depth) during February, the summit of Mount Washington received 4.65 inches, which was 0.80 inches below the 30-year normal for our location. The summit received 32.7 inches of snow/sleet, which was 10.6 inches below the 30-year normal.

We’ve received several questions recently about how our snowfall has been doing at the summit. For Mount Washington, our snowfall season goes from July 1 to June 30 (all year!), so our season is far from over. Looking at the numbers from July 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2022, the summit has received 167.8 inches of snow/sleet, which is 20.5 inches below the 30-year normal for our location.

That deficit might seem like a lot, but it can still easily be made back up. Statistically speaking, March is our second “snowiest” month, and we will also typically see snowfall in April, May, and even early June. According to the 30-year normal from March 1 to June 30, we can still receive upwards of 93.5 inches of snowfall. So, yes, we are down but far from out.

In terms of winds during February, our average was 45.4 mph, which was 0.8 mph above the 30-year normal for our location. Our highest gust recorded during the month was 125 mph, occurring on Feb. 19. February had 19 days with gusts of 73 mph or greater, and of those days, nine had gusts that were 100 mph or greater.

As for our weather during the month, we averaged 36% of the possible sunshine. The summit had one day that was noted as clear or mostly clear, and there were three partly sunny days, with the remaining 24 days being filed under mostly cloudy, cloudy, or obscured (fog). We had 26 days with at least some amount of fog recorded during a 24-hour period. We had four days with rain/freezing rain and 20 days with snow/sleet.

If interested in additional weather data, please check out our F-6 page (updated nightly), our Normals, Means, and Extremes page, our Current Conditions page, and our 48-Hour Higher Summits Forecast. If you need data for research purposes, you can submit a request here.

If you value our high-quality data set spanning almost 90 years, consider a donation to Mount Washington Observatory, a private, nonprofit institution. Donations from members and corporations are an important source of funding that directly support the continuation of forecasting, climate data, and educational work at the summit of Mount Washington.

Sunrise with undercast conditions on 22 February

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

Observatory Staff and Interns Present Projects at AMS Annual Meeting

2022-03-02 05:56:17.000 – Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Science & Education

Mount Washington Observatory staff and interns presented two research posters and an overview of our WeatherX curriculum development project during the 102nd American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) Annual Meeting, held virtually in January.

After planning an in-person meeting in Houston, the AMS made the tough call to change course and host an all-virtual meeting due to the Covid-19 surge earlier this year. Many across the AMS community expressed support of this decision for the cause of health and safety.

Our staff attended a variety of the virtual presentations throughout the week of Jan. 23-27 as part of professional development. In addition, thanks to our successful topic proposals last year, the AMS invited MWOBS to present the following two research projects and one education project.

Project Title: A Data Exploration of Visibility at Mount Washington Observatory (1943-2020)

Presented by Weather Observer and Meteorologist Jay Broccolo. Download poster.

The main goals of this project were to 1) explore the availability and quality of visibility data on Mount Washington and 2) conduct an initial analysis to determine what, if any, trends were apparent since 1943.

All available visibility data were extracted from our summit database to determine what might be available for analysis. The data were compiled into groupings such as seasonal averages and counts of 100 miles or greater observations and then plotted over time.

Overall, a general increase in visibility has been reported since continuous visibility records started at MWOBS, using a proxy recorded visibility called lowest visibility, which is derived from prevailing visibility.

To continue this research, prevailing visibility should be digitized for analysis, and statistical decadal comparisons should be made. Findings should also be assessed against changes in prevailing wind direction and air quality data. Additional information is available on our current projects page.

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Project Title: A Comparison of Climate Normals across the Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire (1981-2010 and 1991-2020)

Presented by Jay Broccolo and Summit Interns Michael Brown and A.J. Mastrangelo. Download poster.

Our 2021 summer interns completed a project examining climate data for the Mount Washington region. The group examined monthly temperature, precipitation, and snowfall data released from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) for three local weather stations over the two latest 30-year observation periods, 1981-2010 and 1991-2020.

The recorded differences between the two datasets were used to create several visuals to best describe the changes at the three locations since 1981.

Across the three stations, located at the summit of Mount Washington, the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, and in North Conway Village, a general warming trend was observed between the two datasets. Additionally, while the summit station recorded less annual precipitation, the other locations observed increased rainfall. Finally, all three locations recorded higher annual snowfall values; in addition, a general increase in the snowpack duration was observed.

Of particular interest to the group was an increase in late winter snow at the North Conway and Pinkham Notch stations, possibly signaling a shifting snow season.

Future research endeavors to extend the findings of this project, as recommended by the interns, include investigations regarding the mountain’s rain shadow effect, North American snow seasonality, local urban heat islands, and changing storm tracks as four. More information is available in this article.

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Project Title: Understanding Weather Extremes with Big Data: Inspiring Rural Youth in Data Science

Presented by Director of Science & Education Brian Fitzgerald. View presentation.

Mount Washington Observatory, along with colleagues at the Education Development Center (EDC), Concord Consortium, and the universities of Maine and Washington, have teamed up to develop curriculum called “Understanding Weather Extremes with Big Data: Inspiring Rural Youth in Data Science,” or WeatherX for short.

Using extreme weather data from NOAA and MWOBS, rural middle school students gain skills in data analysis and computational thinking, while also learning about scientists who gather and use this data in their day-to-day professions. A significant focus of the WeatherX materials is on making career connections that help inspire students to pursue STEM careers.

As part of the 31st Conference on Education highlighting the career connections approach and results, Fitzgerald also spoke about the “Chat with a Scientist” part of WeatherX. Participating classrooms learn about the life and work of our weather observers through pre-recorded video and observer biographies, culminating in a live virtual connection. Students interview our scientists during these “chats” with prepared and off-the-cuff questions, resulting in students learning about who “scientists” are, what motivates them, and what pathways they’ve taken to a unique career in meteorology.

To learn more about this project, visit our WeatherX page.

We look forward to sharing our work and connecting with colleagues again at AMS’ next Annual Meeting, scheduled for Jan. 8-12, 2023 in Denver.

Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Science & Education

A Look Back at the Feb. 18 Rapid Temperature Drop

2022-02-22 16:21:30.000 – Jay Broccolo, Weather Observer and Meteorologist

It was like this. The temperature was holding steady at around 38°F on Friday, Feb. 18. The station had just tied the record high temperature for the day. Winds were out of the west/southwest with sustained winds in the 70 to 90 mph range, and it was raining out. The beautiful snowpack that took all winter to build… we watched a lot of it melt away. Jackie had to trudge through a foot or so of slush to get the precipitation can that morning. It was rather messy.

Then, the winds suddenly relaxed and the temperature started to drop. We knew there was going to be a steep decline, given the synoptic set-up. The White Mountains seemed to be at the bottom of the Low’s center as it crossed through the region, which aligned with the bottom of the trough aloft.

As the cold front crossed through, wind direction shifted 20 degrees to the north, making it westerly. It took one hour for the temperature to drop 18 degrees, as seen below in figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1: Six-hour temperature (°F) at KMWN. Note temperatures at 0630 EST of 38°F.

Figure 2: Six-hour temperature (°F) at KMWN. Note temperatures at 0730 EST of 19°F.

At 0630 EST, the temperature was 38°F (rounded). Over the next hour, the warm front abated, and the pressure bottomed out at roughly 780 hPa, signifying the passage of the trough and that the cold front would be quickly approaching. The night prior, we looked at the weather prediction models to see if our forecast had changed, which it had not really, but we did see that the models were trending towards a stronger cold front. In figure 3, you can see the 00Z model run for that day. The strong cold front and frontogenesis were projected to pass between 0600 and 0700 EST, along with the bottom of the trough as depicted by the wind barbs.

Figure 3: 2022 02 18-00Z NAM 3K 850-hPa Temperature advection (°K/hr), frontogenesis (°K/100km/3hr) and wind barbs (direction and speed in knots).

The cold front actually began to sweep through, at summit level, at 0631 EST. Around 25 minutes later, the temperature dropped 16°F, then another 2 or 3°F over the next half hour. Figure 4 also shows the intensity of the front. The dark blue color part of the cold front was likely just east of the summit by 0800 EST.

Behind the front, cold air advection was much less and presented as a more gradual slump in temperature rather than the plunge that occurred initially. The weather prediction center also puts out a synoptic surface analysis overlayed on an infrared satellite image. Figure 4 (below) shows the frontal boundaries and surface isobars (lines of equal pressure) from the associated event. Evaluating the isobars and position of the frontal boundary indicates two distinct air masses on either side of the front. Flow tends to follow the isobars and by the looks of this surface analysis, it seems as though the wind shift at the surface was more profound than it was at the summit.

Figure 4 also shows the satellite imagery. The cloud cover and temperature colder cloud top temperatures seen to the east of the front is another indicator of the different air masses.

Figure 4: 2022 02 18-1200Z Surface analysis and infrared satellite imagery.

We constantly watch satellite imagery and radar when precipitation is around to observe what occurs in the atmosphere. It is intriguing to then experience it and follow data from our mesonet, summit instruments, and real-time observations as systems pass through the White Mountains.

Figure 5: Weather Observer and Education Specialist Jackie Bellefontaine’s footprints frozen from refreeze of waterlogged snow.

Until next time…

Jay Broccolo, Weather Observer and Meteorologist

Love Is in the Air…and So Are Clouds!

2022-02-14 13:37:41.000 – Sam Robinson, Weather Observer/Engineer

Today is Valentine’s Day, so I thought it would be fitting to focus on what I love most about being a weather observer… clouds! Up here on the summit, we get to view clouds almost non-stop, and it is very rare when we can report “SKC,” or “sky clear.”

Due to our unique location and elevation, and the fact that clouds are up in the sky, sometimes we are able to view clouds over 200 miles away! So in order to report “SKC,” there cannot be any clouds over basically the entirety of the northeast, the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, or even southern Quebec. While our horizontal visibility is limited to about 130 miles due to the curvature and topography of the earth, our visibility out and up can be much greater. The only things that limit it then are airborne particulates and, of course, other clouds.

Described below are some of my favorite common clouds that we view up here, as it would take much longer to explain all cloud types, their characteristics, and how they form. However, if interested in learning more about all of them specifically, I recommend these links from the National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/cloud_classification

https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/clouds_intro

https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/basicten

My personal favorite are cirrus, part of the cirri-form cloud classification, or high cloud family. These form at the highest parts of the atmosphere (usually 20k to +40k feet above ground level) and are made up completely of ice crystals, rather than water vapor, even in the summer. Cirrus clouds are usually the first sign of incoming moisture ahead of approaching systems, and are also usually the first and last clouds to be viewed at dawn and dusk. Because they are so high up in the atmosphere, the rising/setting sun illuminates them before/after it crests the horizon and this is usually what leads to magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

During the day, cirrus clouds usually appear thin, fibrous, and mostly white in color except near the horizon line where they look slightly yellowed due to a greater distance and thickness of air between the clouds and viewer. They also tend to move slower across the sky than other cloud types due to their greater distance from the viewer.

Here are a few pictures I have taken, featuring cirrus/cirri-form clouds. You may be able to spot some cirrostratus or cirrocumulus clouds in these pictures as well. These are part of the same high cloud family but cirrostratus is a denser and usually thicker blanket of cloud high up in the atmosphere, while cirrocumulus can form slightly lower and tends to be puffier looking or speckled in appearance, with fibrous edges.

Cirrus clouds as seen over my backyard in north central Massachusetts.

Cirrus clouds over Pack Monadnock Mountain in southwestern New Hampshire.

Cirrus clouds over western MA, as viewed from the summit of Mount Wachusett in north central MA.

Sunset illuminating cirrus clouds to our west, as viewed from the summit of Mount Washington.

My next favorite cloud is the cumulonimbus, part of the cumulus cloud classification, or low cloud family. These clouds tend to be thunderstorms and are formed when very strong upward motion grows the clouds very high into the atmosphere. The uppermost reaches of cumulonimbus clouds can actually spread out to form cirrus clouds, and when the cloud reaches this high, lightning and hail tend to form as well (because remember, cirrus clouds are ice crystals, and lightning and hail come from ice crystals).

Cumulonimbus tend to form only during the summer in our region because atmospheric conditions need to be just right with very warm air at the surface and cold air aloft. The warm air wants to rise and the greater the gradient, the faster and higher these clouds and storms will form. Sometimes these clouds can have a base only a few thousand feet off the ground but the height reaches over 60k feet up into the atmosphere!

The signature anvil top is usually a telltale sign of a cumulonimbus cloud due to stronger winds aloft shearing off the top of the cloud quicker than at lower levels. Here are a few pictures of cumulonimbus clouds that I have taken.

A cumulonimbus cloud at sunset to our west over Vermont. Cirrus may be viewed at the very top.

A far distant cumulonimbus to our southwest over southern MA, as viewed from the summit.

A picture-perfect cumulonimbus with signature anvil top over central MA.

Another textbook cumulonimbus with anvil top over southwestern NH, as viewed from north central MA.

Rounding off my top three are regular old cumulus clouds. They appear puffy, usually friendly looking (compared to the ominous cumulonimbus), and are usually mostly white in color, only graying as they become thicker. They tend to look like cotton balls and can be all different shapes and sizes, which can also vary quickly depending on the conditions aloft. If you have ever laid down in the grass (or snow) and stared up at ever-changing cloud shapes trying to make them out to be real objects, chances are these were cumulus clouds.

Cumulus clouds are sometimes called diurnal cumulus because they form as the sun comes up, and starts to heat up the lower levels, and then dissipate as daytime heating is lost. These clouds can form during all seasons and tend to form anywhere from a few hundred feet off the ground up to around 6k feet. They are also sometimes referred to as fair weather cumulus because even on mostly sunny, fair weather days, if there is just enough low-level moisture and lift, they will form. I enjoy these clouds because they tend to have character and a lot of times look like the typical image of a cloud if one was to hear or read the word (stereotypical clouds in cartoons, clip art, and even emojis are cumulus).

Cumulus clouds can also form stratocumulus standing lenticular clouds, which are a very popular cloud type due to their unique, flying saucer-like shape. Lenticulars can actually form at all levels of the sky but tend to share the same general shape. These unique cloud formations are shaped when air moves over hills or mountain ranges, so we often view them up here at the summit. I have attached a few pictures that I have taken of fair weather cumulus clouds, as well as some lenticulars (although some of these lenticulars may be altocumulus standing lenticulars [mid-level] or cirrocumulus standing lenticulars [high level]).

Diurnal cumulus to the east, as viewed from the Mt. Washington Auto Road.

Fair-weather cumulus over the Great Gulf, to the north/northeast, as viewed from Clay Col.

A stacked stratocumulus standing lenticular (SCSL) over our observation deck.

Stacked lenticulars (altocumulus standing lenticulars [mid-level] spanning up to cirrocumulus standing lenticulars [high-level]) to our south over Lake Winnipesaukee.

Knowing about clouds is an important part of being a weather observer and crucial to observations in order to keep the aviation community safe, since pilots are flying among them in the sky. Clouds can also tell an important story of incoming or departing weather, which is especially helpful if in remote locations where forecast information is limited or unavailable. Observing and identifying clouds has been a favorite hobby of mine for a few years now. An interesting truth is this is one aspect of my job that I can practice even during my off weeks, no matter my location.

At any given time, and at any given location, there are usually some clouds up in the sky to look at. Like many weather-related phenomena, the sky condition over our heads is almost always changing and rarely ever looks identical from one point in time to the next (except clear or overcast skies, I suppose!).

That is all I have for this time, I hope you enjoyed reading this and I look forward to writing my next blog again soon!

Sam Robinson, Weather Observer/Engineer

Half a Year Back with the Obs

2022-02-04 10:38:08.000 – Stephen Durham, Weather Observer & Education Specialist

We are in the heart of winter at the summit, experiencing a succession of storms… Hooray! Last weekend’s nor’easter delivered a few inches of snow and wind gusts up to 118 mph. Observers are now seeing a flow of moisture streaming northeast, resulting in heavy periods of snowfall that will deliver a foot of new snow for several of the summits and neighboring valley locations.

Some of the southern summits could see totals exceeding a foot, especially in areas where several heavy bands passed overnight and into early Friday. A wind chill advisory will go into effect Friday evening and remain through Saturday, so be sure to check our Higher Summits Forecast for updates. We’ll have some of our team at Ice Fest this weekend. If you’re in the area, stop by our table at Ledge Brewing!

Heading out with Weather Observer Sam Robinson to exchange the precipitation can on Nov. 10, 2021.

Over the past seven months since I rejoined Mount Washington Observatory and returned to the top of New England, I’ve experienced a variety of excitement, from the always extreme weather, to the rewarding education programs with schools, and the challenges of working with different instrumentation at our summit weather station.

The education programs that I help produce, such as Home of the World’s Worst Weather Live, the “Chat with a Scientist” portion of WeatherX, and meeting in person with school groups during the warmer months remind me how much I enjoyed learning about the weather, the environment, and climate when I was growing up. Now it’s my turn to help others enjoy learning about these topics.

WeatherX is focused on inspiring middle school students in rural areas to study weather and data science. The program helps kids gain experience with larger amounts of weather data to investigate extreme weather events that occur at the summit and in their own communities.

Getting to chat with middle schools this school year has been amazing. Students ask great questions about the observatory, the weather, my experience, and much more. I’ve always taken it to heart when I have the opportunity to talk about being a meteorologist, as many kids or adults are so fascinated with the weather.

Leading a Home of the World’s Worst Weather Live virtual classroom program.

My own anticipation for winter weather is particularly high. This is my favorite time of year for big snowstorms. One of my dreams as a kid was to see snow on my birthday in late September, and I came within three days last fall at the summit. Both shifts of weather observers experienced the first snowfall of the season on September 29, as it fell during a shift change day.

Witnessing the aurora borealis in October was one of the most fascinating events and definitely a bucket-list experience. We all stayed up until midnight watching the northern lights get stronger and brighter and dance through the sky. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

This winter, while not huge in the way of snow so far, has had its exciting moments. I enjoy completing hourly observations in challenging weather, like during a nor’easter, freezing rain, or a blue bird day with gusty winds, which make monitoring the Hays Chart extra exciting. A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to observe 141 mph, 142 mph, and a 144 mph wind gusts, beating the highest record when I was an intern here in January 2019.

The sound that the wind makes as it roars past the weather room windows or across the observation deck is thrilling, making me appreciate and love weather even more. I’m excited about 2022 at Mount Washington Observatory, and I can’t wait to continue creating great education programs each and every shift. It isn’t just an opportunity for others to learn; it helps me continue studying weather, the environment, and our climate.

The auroral borealis (northern lights) on Oct. 12, 2021.

Stephen Durham, Weather Observer & Education Specialist

A Highlight of My First Shift: Warmer Temps at Summit Caused by Inversion

2022-01-25 13:22:33.000 – Will Gabbert, Summit Intern

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work and live atop Mount Washington? My longtime desire to answer this question has led me to become the observatory’s newest summit intern as of last Wednesday.

Upon my arrival on the “rockpile,” I was welcomed by an enthusiastic, smart, and wonderful team, along with the Observatory’s notorious cat, Nimbus. My first few days have been much more than I ever imagined. Top experiences so far include snapping photos of rime ice formations at the summit and on Tuckerman’s ravine trail, learning from the crew about history and daily life at the Obs, and experiencing what is known as temperature inversion last weekend.

We had to change gears halfway through the week-long shift as the observers on duty brought me up to speed on their forecast calling for the inversion. The conditions we experienced Friday night into Saturday morning, Jan. 21-22, caused the summit to be warmer than temperatures in the valley. This inversion actually began happening in the late afternoon to early evening before sunset on Friday and continued through Saturday’s sunrise.

Our Current Summit Conditions with Auto Road Vertical Profile, pictured above on Jan. 22 at 9:43 a.m. EST, show the inversion on Saturday morning as temperatures increased from 1600 to 6,288 feet in elevation. These temperatures are continuously collected and updated as part of our Mount Washington Regional Mesonet.

The observers predicted the inversion correctly while teaching me how to compile all the data and complete proper Mount Washington forecasts, which I have read countless times, like many of you who love adventure in the White Mountains’ higher summits.

Within the troposphere, where most of our weather takes place, temperatures usually get colder with a rise in elevation, just as you would expect during a hike to the summit. A reversal of this normal behavior happens during temperature inversions, also called thermal inversions. When skies are clear and winds are low, oftentimes under high pressure, daytime heating slows and stops as night falls. Air at the surface cools more quickly than it does aloft, especially in low-lying areas, like mountain valleys. As the warmer heated air from the daytime rises, cooler denser air remains and becomes trapped underneath the “cap” of warmer air aloft until the next morning when heating resumes or a new air mass mixes in.

In the case of last weekend, neighboring valleys had cold, light, northern air flowing down with ample snow cover and clear skies, which allowed for radiational cooling overnight. The buoyant warm layer of air aloft kept the denser, colder air near the surface until it began to warm through the morning with ample sunshine under the exiting high, as demonstrated above by our Current Summit Conditions with Auto Road Vertical Profile, showing the range of temperatures on Jan. 22 at 9:43 a.m. EST.

I took full advantage of the resulting prime conditions at the summit, enjoying a walk outside and talking with some hikers who remarked how much warmer it was than when they started out that morning. The temperature difference from the valley to the summit was about 25 degrees Fahrenheit! This set up a perfect morning to take photos while visibility was on my side at about 120 miles.

During my weeks off the mountain, I live near the Belgrade Lakes region in Maine. I simply love anything that has to do with nature and extreme weather, and what better place to experience these things than on Mount Washington, in pursuit of a career in meteorology? As a volunteer firefighter/EMT who has also worked for the Forest Fire Service, I’m not your typical 9-5 guy. In my free time, I like to head up to Baxter State Park, or “upta camp” in Aroostook County, to go snowmobiling, boating, fishing, hunting, and hiking with my girlfriend Jill and our dogs Baxter and Cope.

It’s great to be here, and I can’t wait to come back for my next week-long shift at the summit weather station!

Standing at the summit of Mount Washington during my first shift as a summit intern.

Will Gabbert, Summit Intern

Reflections on my first year at the Mount Washington Observatory

2022-01-11 19:42:18.000 – Jackie Bellefontaine, Weather Observer/Education Specialist

Last Thursday marked my first full year at Mount Washington Observatory. I joined the team as a winter intern last year and became a Weather Observer & Education Specialist in March.

The past year has been very formative for me professionally and personally, a lot of which I credit to my life at the Observatory. I’ve been exposed to so many unique experiences, from taking weather observations in harsh conditions to chatting about my work from the summit with students.

I’ll never forget my first experience with hurricane-force winds on the summit. Just two weeks into my internship, winds gusted to 157 mph! That feeling of opening the tower door to sustained 130 mph winds and hearing what that kind of wind sounds like was incredible. Though we haven’t hit a wind gust that high since, I still look forward to high wind events (even the relatively “unimpressive” 80 mph days!). Every day at the Observatory is always so unique and I’m grateful for each one I get to experience.

When not working at the weather desk or taking measurements outside on the observation deck, my co-workers and I have a lot of fun in our spare time on the summit. My favorite memories so far include hiking down to Lakes of the Clouds Hut, hanging out with State Park, nightly dinner conversations, playing and getting very excited over Mario Kart, and simply watching our favorite shows on the couch. We’re all big ol’ nerds on our shift, which makes deciding what to watch very easy. Star Wars? Of course! The Witcher? Absolutely!

I’ve also had some of the best times giving virtual programs as our shift’s Education Specialist. It’s fantastic seeing students from both local schools and across the country joining in and engaging. I’ve fielded some great questions from curious minds and been able to present on topics that I’m passionate about. It’s very rewarding seeing students and general audiences get excited about science and our work at the Observatory.

I consider myself a life-long learner, and there isn’t one person at this Observatory that I haven’t learned from. For that, I’m so grateful. Seeing my fellow observers and valley staff carry out their work and handle situations with such dedication, especially while also grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, is inspirational. Being able to learn from my colleagues and witness their own experiences has helped me grow as a Weather Observer, and as a person. Looking forward to all the incredible experiences yet to be had up here on the Rockpile!

Jackie Bellefontaine on her first day as an intern in January 2021.

Jackie Bellefontaine, Weather Observer/Education Specialist

2021 By The Numbers

2022-01-05 20:22:40.000 – Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

2022 has arrived, so it is a perfect time to look back and summarize the year that was (2021 in this case). If I were to use adjectives to summarize 2021 weather conditions on the summit, they would be: warm, dry, foggy, and windy. To find out why these words were chosen, let’s look back at some of the stats from last year.

Our average temperature for 2021 was 29.7°F (-1.3°C), which is 1.7°F above the 1991-2020 30-year normal for our station. This would make the annual average temperature of 2021 tied with 1938 for the third highest in our dataset, which started in 1932. Our warmest temperature recorded in 2021 was 67°F (19°C), which occurred on August 12th and again on August 13th. Our coldest temperature recorded in 2021 was 28°F below (-28°F/-33°C), which occurred on March 2nd.

In terms of total liquid precipitation, from January to December of 2021, the summit of Mt Washington received 77.41 inches, which was 13.82 inches below the 1991-2020 30-year normal for our location. From January to December of 2021, the summit received 222.5 inches of snow, which was 59.5 inches below the 1991-2020 30-year normal for our location.

In terms of winds, for 2021 our average was 34.9 mph, which was equal (+/-0.0 mph) to the 1991-2020 30-year normal for our location. Our highest gust recorded for 2021 was 157 mph, which occurred on January 24th. From January to December, we had 135 days which had gusts of 73 mph or greater and of those days, 38 days had gusts that were 100 mph or greater.

As for our weather during 2021, we averaged 35% of the possible sunshine. The summit had 16 days that were noted as clear or mostly clear, and there were 44 partly sunny days, with the remaining 305 days being filed under mostly cloudy, cloudy, or obscured (fog). We had 321 days with at least some amount of fog recorded during a 24-hour period. We had 145 days with rain and 156 days with snow.

If interested in additional weather data, please check out our F-6 page (updated nightly), our Normals, Means, and Extremes page, our Current Conditions Page, our 48-Hour Higher Summits Forecast, and our Annual Temperature Graph (an update with the 2021 data included will be coming in the next day or two). If you need data for research purposes, you can submit a request HERE. If interested in supporting the work we do at our weather station, please consider donating or becoming a member. 

Moonlight on the northern Summits at dusk from November 2021

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

Thank You!

2021-12-27 20:18:53.000 – Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

Thank you to all the secret Santas who sent the summit crew Christmas gifts this year. I say “secret” because this year, the valley staff took inventory of who sent what then wrapped all the gifts prior to sending them up to us here on the summit. So, thank you for the candles, refrigerator notepads, pen holders, pizza stones, blender, pans, gift cards, candies, assorted teas, assorted cocoas, and darts. If there is something not listed that you might have sent, it is possible that it might not have made it in time for our previous shift change. But rest assured, it will arrive in the coming shift changes.

As we head towards the end of 2021, our year-end campaign is currently underway. To everyone that has donated already – THANK YOU from all of us on the summit. Your contribution is what allows our non-profit weather station to operate. If you are interested in supporting us, there is still time this week and you can do so HERE

Finally, thank you to everyone that purchased one of our 2022 Calendars, which also support our cause. I have been the one behind putting them together over the past years and am always excited to see them hanging up in various places. If you missed out on receiving one for Christmas, they are still available HERE. And, if you use the code NEWYEAR15 at checkout, you can save 15% off you purchase through December 31st (2021).

Christmas Cairn from Nelson Crag Trail on Ball Crag looking up at the NH State Park Sherman Adams Building

Christmas Cairn from below the summit cone

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

A Winter Outlook as Ski Season Begins in New Hampshire

2021-12-22 10:18:13.000 – Stephen Durham, Weather Observer/Education Specialist

During a recent virtual reception hosted by Ski New Hampshire, I had the opportunity to present and talk with ski areas of the region about the winter we can expect in the White Mountains. With over a dozen ski areas across New Hampshire, knowing what could be ahead for our winter in terms of snow and cold is important as ever for their industry.

What We’ve Seen:

October was an above average month in terms of temperatures across the region, including the summit of Mount Washington, and multiple lower-elevation weather reporting stations. Once we got into November though, winter seemed underway at the summit at least with temperatures getting below average for the majority of the first week thanks to a middle level trough over the region.

After this cold period, we saw a moderation in temperatures, where they warmed to near or just above average. We saw this type of fluctuation through the entire month at the summit with short periods of warm-ups, followed by colder periods.

	Average Temp	Avg Max Temp	Avg Minimum Temp
KMWN(summit) Nov 21’ (Departure)	24.8°F (-3.6°F)	12.1°F (-1.0°F)	18.4°F (-2.4°F)
1990-2020 Nov Average	28.4°F	13.1°F	20.8°F
NCON3(North Conway) Nov 21’	48.6°F (+2.4°F)	27.4°F (+0.1°F)	38.0°F (+1.2°F)
1990-2020 Average	46.2°F	27.3°F	36.8°F

Table 1: Mount Washington and North Conway Weather Stations for November 2021 and month’s average from 1990 to 2020

With the increased fluctuations of the jet stream due to these changing temperatures, there was increased storminess, but we saw the departure for precipitation to be below average, while recording above average snowfall. This can be correlated to the summit seeing below average temperatures, and seeing higher ratios of snowfall (drier snow) during the periods when we had weak storms. For lower elevations, such as North Conway (NCON3), below average snowfall for November included only a trace.

The flow of the jet stream over this period was very quick, with an active polar jet stream into the United States. The active polar jet stream can be related to the ENSO conditions being monitored in the Pacific Ocean with the occurrence of La Niña. With the jet stream being active and fluctuating, this allowed for a typical weather pattern where we saw periods of colder temperatures and at times warmer temperatures. We can compare this to the image below on La Niña winters, which shows periods of colder temperatures coming in from Canada, and warmer air moving in from the south when the jet stream is varying.

Figure 1: El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO) for El Niño and La Niña winters. Credit to NOAA Climate

What Can Be Expected:

December started off temperatures at both the summit and North Conway being below average. There have also been two periods of warmth for the region where temperatures were well above average and broke two daily record highs at the summit. For the month, temperatures are above average for both locations. Snowfall for the North Conway station has been above average for the month by .5 inches, but below average for the season. For the summit, snowfall is on pace at 25.1 inches as of December 21. The December average for snowfall is 47.7 inches.

As we head into the final days of December, I see the potential for another brief above-average period for temperatures. The trend to the start of winter has entailed fluctuations and a battle between what we observe in temperatures. In comparison to La Niña, we continue to see an active polar jet stream. This brings periods of colder and below average temperatures compared to our 1990-2020 climate period. In the coming months, we can also expect the other side of the token where we see brief stretches of warm-ups across the region.

As I mentioned in my presentation to Ski New Hampshire, a year to which we can draw a comparison is the winter of 2017-2018. The image below shows the temperature anomalies for the United States from November 2017 to March 2018. That winter was a second La Niña Winter, similar to this winter where we have a second year La Niña. That winter, we saw near to just-below average temperatures and just around average precipitation. It’s always important to keep in mind that there are other influences on the weather pattern that dictate which direction our winter will go.

Figure 2: Temperature anomaly for Nov 2017 to Mar 2018. NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory

Looking at the precipitation for that winter, we saw right around average for the periods from November until March of 2018. This can be seen in the figure below for the anomaly of precipitation for November of 2017 to March of 2018 in comparison to the 1991-2020 climate range.

Figure 3: Precipitation Anomaly of Nov 2017 to Mar 2018. NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory

Influences that we should be concerned about is ridging or high pressure over the southeast of the United States, this can send warmer air into the northeast and being on the warmer side of storm systems. Another influence is how the jet stream is tracking across the United States, if it is more zonal or west to east, we have a lesser chance of storms redeveloping off the east coast. If we see more troughs, or low pressures able to develop near or off the east coast, this can lead to a slightly better chance of a storm impacting the region.

In the end, my belief in what can be expected is, we will likely see a transient and fluctuating weather pattern in the coming weeks. There is potential in the right circumstances we see a period of storminess, where we see more snow over a period, compared to other weeks, but we could also be on the other side of temperature equation with warmer periods as well. I see the chances for overrunning events, where we see warm air moving in over colder air or cold air damming events. This is when we see storms start off as snow, changing to a wintry mix of sleet or freezing rain, to eventually plain rain. This prediction can be related to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center outlook for the next 3-4 weeks where we have equal chances of seeing either above or below average temperatures as we head into January.

Figure 4: NOAA Outlook for the 3-4 Weeks for Temperature Probability

Stephen Durham, Weather Observer/Education Specialist

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