Wind Speed follow up

[Patrad Fischroy]

I mostly agree with you on that. I guess that my point is that if unmanned modular systems could be deployed in more locations, the added information would be useful. As you said, having that "probe" into the atmosphere is a valuable tool. Even if it were only seasonable in some locations. Besides it is a good opportunity for the Obs folks to get some more grant money.

[Bill O]

I guess that my point is that if unmanned modular systems could be deployed in more locations, the added information would be useful. As you said, having that "probe" into the atmosphere is a valuable tool. Even if it were only seasonable in some locations.

Where money allows they very much are. The Salt Lake Valley and surrounding mountains are a perfect example. It's called Mesowest and was largely funded and created to aid the 2002 winter Olympics:

Mesowest

Zoom into Salt Lake city and the surrounding mountains. All these feed data into local models that help create an amazingly detailed weather model of Utah.

Like you mentioned, many of the mountain top locations are seasonal. They are used to record snowpack data (that's where all their water comes from) and to help forecast avalanches.

While they get 2 to 3 times more snow in Utah than Mount Washington, they do not have a riming problem. This allows these basic weather stations to be easily deployed.

[post'r boy]

based on the opinions of veteran meteorologists that have staffed the observatory for many years,with their own data to back up their opinion,the wind speed record on mount washington will stand for an eterinity. one of those reasons is that the observatory has been moved to a different location.

[afmrintern]

I'm largely against definate, infinates and can't happens. Because it hasn't happened from the northwest in the 25 years in this building doesn't mean that a hundred or 500 year blow from the NW won't come along and break the record...

The staff I worked with and talked to realize that it's not likely to happen from the SE again with the current setup, but the NW has given some strong gusts in the past above 180...

And...it's long been talked about adding another pitot to the SE side of the summit...

[Bill O]

I'm largely against definate, infinates and can't happens. Because it hasn't happened from the northwest in the 25 years in this building doesn't mean that a hundred or 500 year blow from the NW won't come along and break the record...

The staff I worked with and talked to realize that it's not likely to happen from the SE again with the current setup, but the NW has given some strong gusts in the past above 180...

And...it's long been talked about adding another pitot to the SE side of the summit...

The climate record is very short for Mount Washington. Its entirely possible that the 231mph was just a 100 year event, or maybe it was a 500 year event.

I agree that the current location of the observatory is not the best for recording southeast winds. A great addition to the suite of instruments would be an anemometer on the southeast aspect of the mountain.

[Mike D]

...Its entirely possible that the 231mph was just a 100 year event, or maybe it was a 500 year event.

Amazing that it happened a mere 2 years after the reoccupation of the summit for weather observations!

[Bill O]

Amazing that it happened a mere 2 years after the reoccupation of the summit for weather observations!

Amazingly lucky or amazingly convenient?

[Patrad Fischroy]

Amazingly lucky or amazingly convenient?

Do I detect a note of cynicism? Would you care to elaborate? This is, after all a note of extreme pride with the summit staff and others. Witness the hoopla a few years ago when there was another reported high wind event in the South Pacific, as I recall.

[Mike D]

I think Bill was asking about my motives.

The record wind speed was confirmed by employees of the Blue Hill observatory via radio and the anemometer's calibration was later confirmed.

Do I detect a note of cynicism? Would you care to elaborate? This is, after all a note of extreme pride with the summit staff and others. Witness the hoopla a few years ago when there was another reported high wind event in the South Pacific, as I recall.

[Bill O]

Do I detect a note of cynicism? Would you care to elaborate? This is, after all a note of extreme pride with the summit staff and others. Witness the hoopla a few years ago when there was another reported high wind event in the South Pacific, as I recall.

My only skepticism comes from the fact that in the 1930's people still lived in caves. Fire was the latest rage, and giant dinosaurs posed the greatest threat to human life. I pieced this together from "Far Side" cartoons.

Besides that, if it wasn't for skeptics the world record wind would be in Guam.