Historical Posts Archives - Page 36 of 378 - Mount Washington Observatory

1855 Days at 6288 Feet

2018-03-31 16:38:13.000 – Mike Carmon, Senior Meteorologist & Education Specialist

All good things must come to an end.

On July 30, 2008 I arrived at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road at 8:30AM for the very first time. I had just been contacted by the Observatory one week prior in response to my submitted application for a summit internship. One week later, here I was for an in-person interview in an awe-inspiring place I’d never laid eyes on before. A true fish out of water. A ride up the Auto Road and an overwhelming few hours later, I was offered a fall internship on top of Mount Washington—the “home of the world’s worst weather”. For a meteorologist and a die-hard fan of all things extreme-weather, tagging this as a dream come true would be a categorical understatement. The opportunity to spend a few months living with, working with, and learning from summit weather observers would no doubt prove to be the experience of a lifetime.

Nine-and-a-half years later, here I sit, enjoying 130-mile visibility and sunshine outside my office window, composing my very last blog post with the Mount Washington Observatory.

After nearly a decade with this storied organization, the time has come for me to move on to new adventures and exciting challenges.

It’s been a tremendous roller coaster ride to say the least, and it certainly puts matters into perspective to contemplate on the fact that, at 31-years old, I’ve spent nearly one-third of my lifetime living and working on this incredible mountaintop.

I’ve worn many hats since that fateful July day:

Summit Intern
Night Observer
Staff Meteorologist
Day Observer
Shift Leader
Education Specialist
Interim Director of Summit Operations
Co-Director of Summit Operations
Senior Meteorologist

My career growth has been tremendous with the Observatory, and it’s opened up countless new doors and paths for me both personally and professionally. I am truly thankful to the organization for these fresh new forays into the exciting unknown!

It’s nearly impossible to select only a few highlights among so many years of memories. The weather I experienced, of course, was unrivaled:

Peak Wind Speed: 138 mph (March 2017)
Coldest Temperature: -40F (February 2016)
Coldest Calculated Wind Chill: -97F (January 2018)
Lowest Visibility: Less than 5 feet (Many Times!)
Heaviest Snowfall Rates (estimated): 5-6”/hour (March 2017)
Notable Events: Summer 2011 Thunderstorm, Hurricane Irene, Pi Day 2017 Blizzard

I’ve been knocked over by high winds countless times, had some close calls with lightning, waded through snow drifts up to my neck, been in the middle of land-falling Hurricane Irene, experienced sleet so heavy and sharp that it drew blood, been completely rimed and glazed over from head to toe, gotten temporarily lost and disoriented on the summit due to thick fog and dense blowing snow, ran out into a few hailstorms to collect hailstones for measurement, experienced a few instances of thundersnow, watched visibility oscillate from a few feet to 130 miles and back again within seconds, viewed the Aurora Borealis, seen many shooting stars streak across the night sky while manning the night shift, enjoyed countless stunning sunrises and sunsets, observed intricate and unique orographic cloud formations, shoveled some of the deepest drifts I could ever imagine, and stood in awe at a 12+ foot snow wall.

All in all, though, it’s the people that will leave the most lasting memories. Since my first days as an intern, I’ve met an incredible array of folks: staff, interns, volunteers, guests, educators, guides…the list is seemingly endless!

There’s of course Brian Clark & Ryan Knapp, my first shiftmates who trained me during my intern days. Then I can’t forget Steve Welsh & Stacey Kawecki, my shiftmates for years as I came on full time as Night Observer. Our museum attendant Deb joined the shift for my first few summers, and came to be known as “Mama Deb” along with “Papa Steve” Welsh—my first fearless shift leader!

Things began to change when Steve & Stacey left, and I moved up to take the shift leader and education specialist roles in 2013. Brian Fitzgerald and Will Broussard joined the crew around that time along with Tom Padham—three individuals who remain staunchly dedicated to the Observatory and its educational mission to this day!

Mike Kyle and Kaitlyn O’Brien joined the crew a few years after, who were two of the finest and hard-working folks I’ve ever had the privilege of working alongside, as we held down the fort and navigated the summit crew through some particularly tricky times. Great friends and fine people to be sure!

But I consider myself extremely lucky to be ending my Observatory career with two dedicated summit observers and great friends, Adam Gill & Caleb Meute. Being on shift with these guys for two years has been a thrilling ride for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way to end my near decade-long career alongside Adam & Caleb. They are the last additions to my summit family, which has grown and morphed over the years, and will always remain very special to me. I am thrilled to be passing my education buck to Caleb, and my shift leader duties to Adam, who has been my right-hand man on the day shift through thick and thin. I have no doubts that I’m leaving things in some very capable hands.

I realize I’m leaving out an extremely long list of people here, and for that I apologize immensely. This blog post would be near-infinite if I attempted to name every individual that influenced my tenure at the Mount Washington Observatory in some way. From valley staff to state park crew to volunteers: your support and friendships over the years have been truly wonderful and will by far be the most invaluable take-away from my career with the Obs!

Before this blog post transforms into a novel, I’m afraid I must wrap it up and finally utter that oh-so-bittersweet goodbye that I’m just never any good at articulating. But the future is bright for me! Although I will always be a Meteorologist, my time as Education Specialist with the Observatory sparked within me an immense passion for science education, and I look forward to turning my career down that path and helping to guide a younger generation towards a career in the sciences!

The support of my extended family back home in New Jersey has been staunch over my many years in New Hampshire, and I am forever thankful to them as well. At the end of the day, though, I’m particularly looking forward to settling down a little closer to sea level with my beautiful soon-to-be wife Jesse and our big happy ball-of-fur, Skookumchuck. Her support through my latter days at the Observatory has been tremendous, and the fortune that I have the family that I do makes me feel invariably lucky. Although I’m leaving my summit family behind, between the wagging tail of “Skook” and the wonderful smile of my fiance, I just couldn’t be happier and more excited. The White Mountains will forever be our home, and will always be special to our hiking family!

It has been an honor, a privilege, and an absolute pleasure to contribute to the historic Mount Washington Observatory—a storied White Mountains organization richly steeped in history. The employees are dedicated, and the mission is one that I will always believe in wholeheartedly.

And the mountain, well—with its majesty, mystique, and magnificence—will forever soundly and firmly speak for itself.

Mike Carmon, Senior Meteorologist & Education Specialist

Ozone Levels

2018-03-29 09:41:27.000 – Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern

You may have heard about the current ozone levels in the news or in our forecasts. You may think “What is ozone”? or “What are they basing this level off of”? Well, I am here today to explain what the ozone is, what scale is used to determine what the ozone level is, and what you can do to limit your exposure when the ozone level is high.

What is the ozone? Ozone is a highly reactive gaseous molecule that consists of three oxygen atoms. Ozone occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere as it shields the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. In the lower atmosphere (ground-level), ozone is formed primarily from chemical reactions of man-made air pollutants coming from vehicles, industries, power plants, and products such as solvents and paints (airnow.gov). Ozone levels and air pollution will often be worse during the afternoon hours in the summer due to its relation to UV radiation and sunlight. During the summertime, the days are longer, there is more sunlight, more UV radiation, and more stability in the atmosphere (latimes.com). These will lead to the air becoming stagnant; it will just sit in one spot and cook.

What scale is used to determine what the ozone level is? The Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) uses a scale called the Air Quality Index (AQI) that calculates five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide (airnow.gov). The AQI runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern is, especially for people with respiratory troubles.

Air Quality Index and Meaning used by the Environmental Protective Agency to determine the ozone level.

What can you do to limit your exposure when the ozone level is high? You can choose a less-strenuous activity, take more breaks during outdoor activity, reschedule activities to the morning or to another day, or move your activity inside where ozone levels are usually lower (airnow.gov).

Before you venture out and start your day, use this website to check what your current AQI is so you will know how to prepare: https://www.airnow.gov/.

Websites used:

Air Quality Guide for Ozone: https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=pubs.aqiguideozone.

Air pollution kicks into high gear in summer months: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/01/health/la-he-summer-health-air-pollution-20110601.

Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern

The Return of Sunrise

2018-03-26 17:19:14.000 – Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

Working nights on the summit, my shift typically starts at 1730 EST (1830EDT) and ends at 0530 EST (0630 EDT) the following morning. I don’t mind this shift, in fact, I prefer the night shift. However, it does have a few drawbacks, one of them being the lack of sunshine. This is especially true from late October through early March when the sun rises after my shift ends and sets before my shift begins again. During this time period, if I want to view a sunrise, sunset, or daylight in generally I have to either stay up after my shift ends or get up early prior to my shift beginning. The wait/wake time will vary anywhere from a few minutes to just over an hour. By the winter solstice, sunrise is at ~0710 EST and sunset is at ~1615 EST so that would mean I would have to stay up 1 hour 40 minutes after my shift ends for sunrise and wake up 1 hour 15 minutes prior to my shift beginning for sunset. By the end of my shift, I am typically exhausted, so I typically choose the early rise for sunset option. So this typically means I don’t get to view sunrise for roughly half of the year.

But then comes March and things start to flip towards my favor as sunrises start to occur earlier and earlier and sunsets start to occur later and later. By the summer solstice, sunrise is taking place at ~0355 EST (0455 EDT) and sunset is taking place at ~1940 EST (2040 EDT). So I get to enjoy a bit of sunshine at the start and end of my shift with the added benefit of seeing sunrise and sunset. Of course, this is assuming we get to see a sunrise or sunset to begin with. Over the course of the year, the summit is in the clouds (or fog when you’re up here in it) and this obscures a bulk of the sunrises and sunsets and other vistas we might get to see. So needless to say, I try to get out and view/enjoy any sunrise or sunset I can.

This shift marked my first summit sunrise of 2018 and it didn’t disappoint as I would give it a solid 6 out of 10. Anyone that has worked with me up here knows that I rank my sunrises/sunsets using a scale from 0 (fog) to 10 (spectacular). My sunrise/sunsets ranks are based on personal criteria and perspective and as such, my ranking will rarely if ever match another person’s rankings. But I always remind people that my ranking is based on over a decades worth of vistas to compare to. So someone seeing a sunrise up here for the first time, that might be their version of a 10 while I am throwing out that it was a 3; it’s all relative.

top of the mount washington auto road and tuckerman ravine ravine at sunrise in march with snow

Sunrise from the top of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail

So why a 6 for this first summit sunrise of 2018? Well a few reasons. There was a touch of undercast on the Carter-Moriah Range. Visibility was good albeit slightly hazy. There were clouds overhead, however, they resulted in little to no color due to their position in the sky. Some clouds in the distance near the horizon blocked or at least diffused the initial light, so the deep reds typical with alpenglow were lacking. Then as the sun rose above this cloud layer, some pinks and oranges eventually blushed the snowpack on the summit briefly prior to transitioning into the golden hour hues after the sun rose. With the fresh snow and rime, the pink and oranges were everywhere, so plenty of hues to view and all quickly changing in a span of 10 minutes prior to the light falling flat. Lastly, there were no added elements like showers, virga, a rainbow, etc to add something special and unique. So it all tallied to something just above average to me. All that being said though, I was still out and about enjoying this “6” of a sunrise, after all, it was my first for 2018. And if I had to rank it for my 2018 sunrises, it was a 10. But there are many more to come for 2018, so we will see where it ultimately ends up in my overall ranking later this year.

Color gradients of sunrise alpenglow on summit snow

Alpenglow – Timing Is Everything

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

Winter Hiking Hazards: Cornices

2018-03-25 14:24:25.000 – Taylor Regan, Weather Observer

From our perch atop New England, summit staff are often treated to some pretty neat views. On a crystal clear day, these views extend for 130 miles, as far away as Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks to our west and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Today though, I want to talk about a phenomenon spotted just a few miles from us on the summit, and that is a snow cornice.

First off, what is a snow cornice and how does it form? A cornice is essentially a buildup of snow that is deposited by the wind onto the downwind side of an obstacle, in this case, the ridgeline along Mt. Clay. Cornices vary in size and can range from just a few feet in height to areas much larger than the size of a house! Cornices need two things to develop: wind and snow. The wind must be strong enough to move and deposit snow, but not so strong as to completely scour the surface. Speeds of 15-25 mph are ideal.

Why are cornices dangerous? A cornice poses a real mountaineering and/or backcountry skiing hazard for a variety of reasons. Cornices are typically very difficult to identify from the top of a ridgeline because they often look as though the ground simply continues on underneath them, even though the snow is actually just built up on itself. Additionally, they are very susceptible to sudden fractures and extremely sensitive to triggers (such as the weight of a hiker or skier). The collapse of a cornice can also trigger large scale avalanches in the terrain below.

While it is relatively easy to spot cornices when skies are clear and you are observing the terrain from a distance, they become much more difficult to distinguish when you are hiking along a ridgeline or are enshrouded in fog. As a note of safety, never assume a cornice will be able to support your weight, and keep in mind that snow and cornices will build up and develop on the leeward side of a ridge. Determining the leeward side of a ridge however, keeping in mind that winds can and do shift directions, can be difficult, especially when visibility is compromised.

The Mount Washington Avalanche Center (www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org) produces a daily avalanche forecast that I encourage anyone interested in backcountry exploration to check out. Additionally, their website provides a host of information regarding navigating terrain in the safest manner possible, as well as other educational resources regarding snowpack and making smart hiking/skiing decisions in the backcountry.

Taylor Regan, Weather Observer

Vernacular Confusion

2018-03-23 12:16:16.000 – Sarah Schulte, Summit Intern

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

– Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride

The field of meteorology is chock-full of terminology, and these terms are used by a wide variety of meteorologists. Researchers, observers, broadcasters…they all have a need to get their information out to their audience. Because of the wide variety of weather professionals and the even wider variety of the audiences with whom they communicate, it’s easy for those unfamiliar with the vernacular to use the words incorrectly. Since many of these terms pertain to winter weather and I’m still getting used to them (being from further south), I decided to take a closer look at a few words that have become more widely used in the past few years.

Polar Vortex

As defined by the National Weather Service (NWS), the polar vortex is “a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles”. This low pressure area is a permanent fixture in the poles and has always existed. It also sits high up in the atmosphere, not at the Earth’s surface.

Diagram of the Polar Vortex from the NWS.

The term ‘polar vortex’ became popular when it was reported in association with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States. Although it never moves from the poles and never disappears, the polar vortex does fluctuate in power and spread and becomes stronger in the winter season. It affects the United States (and parts of Europe and Asia) when it expands and sends cold air southward. This Arctic air moves with the jet stream, and since the positioning of the jet stream changes, that means there’s potential for this frigid air to affect areas it might not usually reach. To sum up, the polar vortex doesn’t appear and disappear and it doesn’t physically move into the United States, but it can strengthen and send extremely cold air our way. If you hear mention of it, get ready to layer up!

Bomb Cyclone

We’ve had some impressive Nor’easters move through our area this year (for more detail on Nor’easters, see Jillian’s previous post). Another term has popped up frequently as this train of tempests tore through New England: bomb cyclone. ‘Bomb cyclone’, as well as its synonym ‘weather bomb’, is, according to Met Office, “an unofficial term for a low pressure system whose central pressure falls 24 millibars in 24 hours.” The meteorological term for this phenomenon is ‘explosive cyclogenesis’.

Explanation of ‘bombogenesis’, another term for explosive cyclogenesis (graphic from www.liveweatherblogs.com)

Intense pressure drops are important to classify because they generate strong winds, and if this happens quickly, the impacts can be severe. Some of the storms this year have met the criteria for explosive cyclogenesis. However, not every storm that leaves an impact undergoes this deepening in pressure. ‘Bomb cyclone’ isn’t a term to use for any storm that may cause trouble. Rather, ‘explosive cyclogenesis’ is used to specify that a low pressure system will drop at least 24 millibars of pressure in 24 hours. It’s an impressive feat, but it’s frequently attached to storms that don’t merit the title.

Wind Chill

In an environment that can be as cold as that of the White Mountains, ‘wind chill’ is a very important term to use correctly. Wind chill is a value that takes temperature and wind speeds into account, but it isn’t the actual air temperature. As explained by the NWS, “it takes into account heat loss from the human body to its surroundings during cold and windy weather”. The human body will lose more heat in stronger winds, and if temperatures are already cold to begin with, then the heat loss will be even worse. For example, a wind chill value of 30 below zero indicates that your body will lose heat as if the temperature of the air was 30 below zero on exposed skin. The actual temperature won’t be this cold, but the strong winds accompanying the temperature will make your body lose heat more rapidly.

All three of these terms (polar vortex, bomb cyclone and wind chill) have a tendency to be misused. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that when used correctly, these terms represent weather events and conditions that can pose danger to the unprepared. Knowing exactly what they mean allows for better preparation when venturing out into the elements. Inconceivable? I think not!

Sarah Schulte, Summit Intern

Springtime on the Rockpile

2018-03-22 06:39:35.000 – Bill Ofsiany, Summit Volunteer

Spring on the Rockpile is fickle,

With high warm sun and bright snow,

But the cold strong winds of winter are here,

That push windchills to twenty below.

It seems that whoever makes weather,

Isn’t sure which direction to go,

Some days are calm, warm and sunny,

Just as often there’s low temps and snow.

But those days get fewer and fewer,

And winter ice gets transformed into slush,

And rivers of meltwater flow down the trails,

Turning bare spots to bootsucking mush.

The cold is still in control here,

Those wet days freeze up without sun,

Turning snowfields back to glare ice, that’s smooth,

Spring advances up here are hard won.

March comes in like a lion,

Like it does in the towns nearby,

But here at the top, it goes out that way too,

‘Cause we’re a mile high up in the sky.

The Snowcat gets parked, higher up each week,

As spring moves up high, where it’s steep,

And the road crew works on the Cragway Drift,

Where the snow can be twenty feet deep.

Soon all will be back in summer mode;

The crowds, the bugs, and the heat,

And we’ll miss the bite of the wind on our cheek,

And the ice crunching under our feet.

Bill Ofsiany, Summit Volunteer

What is a nor’easter?

2018-03-17 10:15:50.000 – Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern

You may have heard the term ‘nor’easter’ used in the news or from our forecasts during the past couple months. You might think “We get storms all the time. But what exactly would define a storm as being a nor’easter?” That is what I will be talking about in this blog post.

The Weather Channel defines a nor’easter as a “strong area of low pressure along the East Coast of the United States that typically features winds from the northeast off the Atlantic Ocean”. They are a result of air temperatures over land being much colder than air temperatures over the ocean during the winter and early spring months. The difference in temperature between the warm air over the water and cold air over land provides the instability and energy needed to develop and fuel nor’easters.

A typical setup for a nor’easter (Weather.com).

The polar jet stream transports cold air southward out of Canada into the U.S., then eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean where warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic tries to move northward. This is why the U.S. East Coast is an ideal spot for nor’easters. The areas located closer to the coast (such as Boston, New York City, etc.) will be more vulnerable to this type of storm.

A nor’easter can bring heavy rain or snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding to the affected locations. Keep an eye on the weather in order to be sure when to take the proper steps to prepare. This includes stocking up on extra food and water, just in case you were to lose power for a couple days due to trees and power lines being knocked down by strong winds. It will also include staying off of the flooded/snow-covered roads until flooding subsides or they are plowed.

Jillian Reynolds, Summit Intern

Response to a Common Question

2018-03-12 21:59:41.000 – Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

In the 12+ years I have worked on the summit, the most common inquiry I have had to answer via email, direct messaging, social media comments, or otherwise is some iteration of, “I plan to hike/visit Mt. Washington on so-and-so day. What’s the weather forecast for that day? And what would be the easiest trail on the mountain?” While I know I will likely have to answer this a few more times over the course of 2018 (and beyond) I figured I would share my response so I might help out one or a few of those individuals out there wondering the same thing.

We (the Mount Washington Observatory) unfortunately do not provide extended forecasts due to the variability of the summit weather nor do we provide personalized forecasts due to liability issues. However I can certainly run you through how to prepare for and get to know the weather and trail conditions for your hike.

The first thing to examine is what the weather typically is for that time of year by looking at our normal, means, and extremes: http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/normals.php. This will give you a rough idea as to what to expect overall on any given month.

Additionally you can check out our most recent copies of WS Form F-6: https://www.mountwashington.org/experience-the-weather/mount-washington-weather-archives/monthly-f6.aspx. These PDF’s are available for the past decade or so and provide an overall summary of the weather broken down by year, month, and day.

When the date of you hike finally approaches, you can turn to our 48 hour higher summits forecast (updated twice a day no later than 5 am and pm): https://www.mountwashington.org/experience-the-weather/higher-summit-forecast.aspx and NWS’s 36 hour higher

summits forecasts: https://www.weather.gov/gyx/AllLocationsText?loc=MOUNT%20WASHINGTON. You can also try a computer generated forecast through sites such as accuweather, weather.com, or any other site you might be familiar with by entering our zip code 03589 (note though that not every website or app recognizes us as a known location) or the zip code/city names of neighboring towns/cities/villages (Conway, Berlin, Twin Mountain, etc). Automated forecasts for the summit have a difficult time providing a realistic outlook as the algorithms used tend to put our location lower in elevation and slightly further south. This results in the automated app/website typically making us appear calmer, warmer, drier, and clearer with numbers way far off from reality (I have tested several apps and none have aligned with reality for the summit). However, using an app/website with extended forecasts can help out in giving a generalized idea of what the weather might be; for instance, if the app is calling for precipitation in Conway, it is likely going to precipitate here too. So you can use an automated service for a rough extended forecast then turn to our 48 hour forecast for additional details as the date(s) of your hike approach.

Looking towards Boott Spur Trail at sunrise 12 March 2018

As for checking trail and road conditions, I wrote an Observer Comment awhile back touching upon most of the resources that people should check before planning any trips in the northern half of NH. It was written after Hurricane Irene however most of it still applies. The full comment can be read on our archive and then searching for August 31, 2011 (or clicking HERE). To get to the sites referenced in the blog entry, just click on any highlighted/underlined words to be taken to the various websites. Since it is an older entry, some of the links no longer work, but the important ones and ones relevant to your hike are still working correctly and a Google inquiry can usually direct you to the updated links that might be broken. Additionally, you can look through the various resources and guidelines on the AMC page here: http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/hiking/hiking-mtwashington.cfm.

There unfortunately is NO “easy” way up/down the summit by foot. However, the most commonly used way to the summit is from the eastern side via the Tuckerman/Lion Head Trail routes as it is the shortest by distance. But read over trail descriptions and look over topo maps and you will see that you will be going straight up a glacial headwall for half of the trail. So short, but by no means easy. This trail starts at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center where it is advised to stop in, sign the log book, and get a last minute update on current weather and trail conditions. You will then take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail up until it forks with the Lion Head Trail Summer/Winter Routes. During the summer months, one can either take the Tuckerman Ravine Trail or the Lion Head Summer Route up/down (or make a loop out of them). However, during this time of year, the trail in the ravine is still closed due to snow/avalanche dangers, so Lions Head Winter Route will need to be taken up/down. There are plenty of online resources with information about what to pack for the season you are interested in however, regardless of the season, the 10 essentials should always be packed.

Lastly, all summit facilities and transportation are currently closed for the winter season. When they reopen for the late spring to early fall season, all summit facilities and transportation (in case you are planning to take them down) only operate during the day and are all weather dependent (for instance, if it becomes icy, operations might become limited, close early, or not operate all together). Additionally, all transportation options are based around a first-come first-serve basis and only if space if available. So be sure to pack plenty of food, water, and adequate clothing as you will be responsible for not only getting up but back down as well. Have a turn around time and listen to your body/conscience. In every season on any mountain, it is ALWAYS safer to head back down than it is to continue up as trail conditions and more importantly, weather will always get worse the higher you ascend. Since we (MWO) operate independently from NH State Parks, Mt Washington Auto Road, The Cog, and the AMC, any inquires about their various operations should be directed towards them directly. The AMC page is linked above but the other pages are:

NHSP: http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/mount-washington-state-park.aspx

The Mount Washington Auto Road: http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/

The Cog: https://www.thecog.com/

I hope this helps in your planning and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable hike on the so-and-so date of your choosing.

Looking north at sunrise 12 March 2018

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist

March – In Like a Lion…

2018-03-10 15:25:18.000 – Taylor Regan, Weather Observer

As I write this blog post, winds outside are howling at hurricane-force, whipping up nearly a foot of newly fallen (and still falling) snow and hurling it through the air, just one element of the summit milieu that both deprives and overstimulates the senses. The ground rumbles underfoot and cold seeps in relentlessly through even the warmest layers. The ground and sky cease to maintain their autonomy and blend seamlessly into an ever constricting blanket of milky white: visibility is down to inches. Tumultuous eddies of broken snowflakes sandblast any and all surfaces, including myself, as I step outside for a routine weather observation. In like a lion, the saying goes, and yet, conditions like this are what the summit of Mount Washington routinely delivers on a mid-March day.

With an average temperature of 12.8°F, March is the 4^th coldest month on the summit of Mt. Washington. In terms of temperature swings, the month sports a record high of 54°F, and a record low of -38°F! It is also the second snowiest month of the year averaging 45.1 inches: just December’s average 45.5 inches. Winds blast the summit with an average velocity of 40.3 mph over the month, and have gusted as high as 180 mph (1942). Make no mistake, March atop the Northeast’s highest peak is fierce, and while winter may begin to relax its grasp on the remainder of the region around this time of year, it remains firmly entrenched atop the Rockpile for many weeks to come.

Only ten days into March, and the summit has already picked up nearly 30 inches of snow. This trend doesn’t look to slow down any time soon, with another potential Nor’easter on the way to usher in the work week. For comparison, at this time last year, the summit had recorded only about 12 inches of snow for the month of March to-date. What a difference a year makes!

Figure 1. Sunrise with calm winds, undercast, and several inches of freshly fallen snow blanketing a sleepy summit.

Figure 2. Footprints in several inches of freshly fallen snow, illuminated at sunrise.

For those of you interested in experiencing winter weather on the summit firsthand, I encourage you to check out winter daytrips. Four spots have recently become available, but they probably won’t be available for long. Winter daytrips include transportation to the summit in our SnowCat, as well as lunch on the summit and a tour of our weather station, plus the opportunity to chat with weather observers about life and work atop this storied place. More details are available on our website at mountwashington.org/trips.

Taylor Regan, Weather Observer

Slinging Science!

2018-03-09 13:39:51.000 – Sarah Schulte, Summit Intern

Every hour for the past 85 years, one of Mount Washington’s weather observers has stepped out onto the Observatory’s deck to take a manual weather observation. In addition to noting visibility and cloud formations, they also use an instrument called a sling psychrometer to take wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature measurements, which are important for calculating relative humidity (the amount of water vapor present in the air). On a day when the summit is shrouded in fog, the air is completely saturated and has a relative humidity of 100%. On any other day, however, this measurement needs to be taken.

Taking a measurement with the sling psychrometer.

A sling psychrometer is made up of two thermometers attached to a spinning handle: a dry-bulb thermometer, which is identical to a typical thermometer, and a wet-bulb thermometer, which has a piece of wet cloth wrapped around the end. To take a reading, the sling psychrometer is slung around in circles, and water begins to evaporate out of the cloth at the end of the wet-bulb thermometer.

When water evaporates, it changes from a lower-energy state (liquid water) to a higher-energy state (water vapor). In order to achieve this higher state, the water molecules need energy, and so they take it from their environment in the form of heat. As more and more water evaporates from the end of the wet-bulb thermometer, more heat is taken from it and the temperature reading drops. When the air can’t hold any more water vapor, water stops evaporating from the end of the thermometer and we have our wet-bulb temperature! A day with higher humidity will have a wet-bulb temperature closer to the dry-bulb temperature, because less water will evaporate from the end of the thermometer and less heat will be removed.

This process is similar to how the human body regulates its temperature. When the body starts to grow too hot, it produces sweat. The sweat evaporates, taking heat away from the body and cooling it down. This is why a humid day feels more uncomfortable than a dry day: the body can’t rid itself of excess heat by evaporating all of its sweat. Take extra care on humid days to avoid overheating!

Sarah Schulte, Summit Intern