Observer Comments
May 2013
 "see caption below")
Our Pitot Static Anemometer
You may have heard about our extreme weather here on the summit, including our previous world record wind speed of 231 miles per hour recorded in April of 1934. Many other observatories in less extreme environments use propeller anemometers or other spinning anemometers to determine wind speed, but this does not work on Mt Washington, thanks to a weather phenomenon called rime ice. Rime ice builds on every exposed surface on the summit when we are in the clouds and below freezing, forming feathers of opaque ice. This would quickly build on the moving parts of traditional anemometers and easily make them inaccurate and break them.
In order to successfully record extremely strong winds in harsh environments like Mt Washington, the observatory turned to a device commonly used to record airspeed on airplanes, called a Pitot Tube. This device determines wind speed by directly measuring the force exerted by the wind in a small tube. With no moving parts and surfaces that can be easily heated, this piece of technology works very well on the summit.
If you're driving through the area, you should visit the spectacular summit! If you're a member, you can get a tour of the observatory and get up close and personal with our Pitot Static anemometer. You can even be the highest person standing on solid ground in the northeast during the tour (our tower is slightly higher than the geographic summit). I hope to see you this summer!
Mike Dorfman – Weather Observer
 "see caption below")
May Rime Ice
Why do we come to Mt. Washington? We come because we love the views, the sunrises and sunsets, the diversity of the weather, and the winds. It's called the Rockpile, but it is much more than a pile of rocks. The day before we arrived, a new daily record high of 57 degrees was set. Today the temperatures were in the upper teens and the wind chills hovered around zero or below. This is a place of extremes, fog and sunshine, warmth and cold, mountains and valleys, technology and nature, high winds and calm, young and old (the crew is young, we're old!). All of this combined to make this volunteer week an amazing experience.
It is always different, no matter if it is your first time (Deb) or your ninth (Patti). Even the Observatory kitchen is an adventure. We enjoyed the challenge of working with the ingredients available and varying our meals as we cooked for a small but appreciative crew. We had a few opportunities to hike off the summit and Patti relished this opportunity to show her out of state cousin some of the beauty of New Hampshire and why Mt Washington and the surrounding area holds such a special place in her life. We never lacked for anything to do. On the days where being outside was not an option, we had much time to sit and talk, not only to each other, but also to the crew members, learning a little about who they are and what draws them to this place. An experience like this would not be possible without membership in the Mount Washington Observatory, which Patti gave to Deb to allow us to spend this week together, two cousins catching up on lives spent miles apart. What a gift, one Deb will never forget. Share the gift of
membership with someone you know. Who knows where it might lead you, maybe to a volunteer week together on this incredible pile of rocks.
Debbie Bohr and Patti Chappell – Summit Volunteers
Happy Mother's Day to all of our MWObs Moms! Throughout my three years here (and today marks three years) there have been many 'Moms' on the summit. For one, my own Mom who has always supported my dream to work here and has been my continued best supporter, but all the volunteer 'Moms' on the summit. Throughout the past few years countless women have spent time on the summit lending a huge hand to the summit staff. They have cooked us soup when we didn't feel good, cakes when it was our birthday, and made plates of cookies just because. They have helped enter data, organized our workshop, worked in the museum, and shared in our summit lives. Without their help and support, life and work on the summit would be an entirely different story. So, thank you from all of us on the summit.
Rebecca Scholand – Weather Observer/Education Specialist
After five awesome months of being a summit Intern at the Mount Washington Observatory's , my tour is rapidly coming to a conclusion. My time here was nothing short of amazing. The experiences that this Internship offers are one of a kind. From working and living on the summit for a week at a time, to working on each step of the meteorological process my experience has included it all. I have met and gotten to know all our guests, visitors, and employees of the observatory. My time at the Observatory has not only giving me a great experience that will transfer to my professional life, but has given me new friends and stories that will remain with me in my personal life.
I could go on to write a novel about everything I experienced this winter, but I just don't have time for that. However, since Mount Washington is ' Home of the World Worst Weather' I will share the extreme weather I got to experience in my five months at the Observatory. My first shift started with a new monthly record high of 48 degrees and ended with temperatures -35 below. A few weeks later I got my first taste of 100+mph winds. De-iceing in high winds literally takes your breath away. Then just as winter was looking to come to an end, two late winter storms came through the region giving the summit snow drifts ranging from three feet to as tall as 20 feet (at the front entrance of Yankee Building). These experiences are ones that I'm sure I will never forget, and have provided me with a whole new respect for the weather.
In closing I want to thank everyone at the Mount Washington Observatory for allowing me to intern at the Observatory this winter. It would be wrong not to thank my family and friends who have supported me over the last five months too. I would not have been able to do this internship without their encouragement and support. Thank You Again.
Michael Kyle – Summit Intern
The Cog has been coming to the Summit for the past couple of weekends and today was the first day the Auto Road was open to the public. Tomorrow will be the first day that the Stages will be bringing guests to the Summit.
For all of you hikers out there wanting to come to the Summit just remember that the Valley may be plenty warm however up here on the 'rock' pile it's still in the 30's and 40's so bring plenty of extra layers. There's also still some snow and plenty of runoff on the trails so you'll need to plan accordingly. It's always a good idea to stop by the AMC Pnkham Notch Visitor Center or check out the conditions on-line.
If you're in the area this summer come on up to the highest peak north of the Carolinas and east of the Mississippi and if you're an Observatory Member stop by for a free tour or check out this Observatory Tour Special being put on by the The Cog.
Roger Pushor – Weather Observer/IT Specialist
With spring time upon us the weather in the White Mountain Region is getting nicer. Hikers are making their way back on the trails that have been covered by snow all winter. Don't let the nice weather deceive you. Spring and summer can have dangerous weather that hikers and any other participants of outdoor activities should monitor. Thunderstorms, especially severe can have a variety of threats that endanger anyone outside during the storm. These threats include hail, lightning, flash flooding, strong winds, and tornadoes. Each of these threats causes multiple injuries and deaths every year. On a 30 year average the top three causes of weather related fatalities are flash flooding, tornadoes, and lightning. The safest and smartest thing to do during a thunderstorm is to seek shelter in an enclosed building, away from any windows that could break if hit by debris kicked up during the storm.
For hikers and anyone else in the backcountry seeking shelter in a build mostly likely is not an option. When it comes to lightning anyone the backcountry is extremely exposed, and is left in a dangerous position if caught in a thunderstorm. That is why it is important that during this time of year you check the higher summits weather reports before leaving your house. If the report is showing a chance of thunderstorms, it might be best to re-plan your day's activities for one with better weather.
If the weather does look good, here are some addition tips to consider while hiking. If you're hiking to peaks above tree line you should plan to summit before 1:00PM. This will reduce your chance of expose to thunderstorms during the peak hours of thunderstorm development which normally is later in the afternoon. While on your hike you should take some time every once in a while and look at the sky to see if the clouds are growing in size (vertically and horizontally), or if they are darkening in color. That might be signs of a developing pop-up thunderstorm. Lastly, if you're on the trail and hear thunder or see lightning, TURN BACK IMMEDIATELY! Lightning can strike up to ten miles away from a storm, so if you can't hear thunder you are still within striking distance of that storm.
For more great lightning safety tips on outdoor venues, go to the Mount
Washington Observatory's on the Mount Washington Observatory's website. There you will find more great tips that will help keep you safe during your backcountry adventures this spring. The spring and summer seasons are beautiful times of the year in the White Mountain Range, so make sure you get out and enjoy them before winter's return. Just do so in safely and responsibly manner.
Michael Kyle – Summit Intern
An incredible stretch will come to an end later today.
The month of May still has yet to see any fog for the summit of Mt. Washington, and we are eight days into the month, at a location where we observe fog for an average of 60% of the year.
In fact, one has to look all the way back to April 29th, when the summit went in the fog for a mere 95 minutes, to find any trace of the shrouded phenomenon.
However, looking at the models, this streak will most certainly come to an end later today. High pressure is finally retreating out to sea, and moisture is surging northward, which will provide New England with an extended period of cloudy skies and rain showers.
This recent stretch of warm and sunny weather was enjoyed thoroughly by summit staff, but it's time for Mt. Washington to start living back up to its infamous meteorological reputation again!
Yesterday, the summit hit 57 degrees F, which was a daily record high for the day, yet the average temperature this time of year is 32 degrees F. By early next week, the chance for snow and rime ice may come back into the forecast! Seeing as today is shift change day, though, we'll let the other shift tackle that subject in the days to come.
Happy Wednesday!
Mike Carmon – Weather Observer/Meteorologist
 "see caption below")
Cherfonak, Alaska!
The Observatory's Distance Learning Program is excited to announce that we'll be reaching out to another notoriously harsh climate-- Alaska! For the first time in our program's history we'll be connecting with not only 'The Last Frontier' state, but with a program sponsored by the University of Alaska with funding through the U.S. Department of Education. More specifically, tomorrow in the late afternoon (mid-day for the students) we'll connect with 20 students in Chefornak, Alaska, a village of around 400 native-Alaskans in coastal and western Alaska in the hopes of exposing these college-bound students to an occupation that they don't typically hear about that utilizes math and science.
This program was made possible through our connection with the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, one of the main channels that schools throughout the globe can use find out about how to connect to the summit of Mount Washington for in-classroom interactive learning. It's extremely exciting to offer these programs and know that the future is certainly bright for distance learning as a means for building educational outreach. If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the Observatory into the classroom visit our Education Page for more information!
As for now I'm headed outside to enjoy the last of the abundant sunshine, but as a side note: if rain holds off until Thursday, our records indicate this would be the longest streak without precipitation since 1977 (12 days). Crazy!
Brian Fitzgerald – Weather Observer/Education Specialist
 "see caption below")
Observer Mike D. Poses for a Long Exposure Picture
As a new night observer on the summit, I have quickly realized that the night sky and
nighttime landscape, when visible, are an incredible sight. The plain blue sky that
surrounds us during the day can turn into a sea of sparkling stars once the sun sets, and
the surrounding landscape, barely visible under moon or starlight, turns into an eerie
backdrop for my nighttime observations. Although I am quite busy at night, my midnight
lunch break involves grabbing a bite to eat, grabbing my camera and attempting to capture
what I see outside. Doing this can be challenging and frustrating, but it can also be
extremely rewarding if the final product comes out as hoped. It seems almost like magic
when the unadjusted human eye can barely see shapes in starlit terrain, yet a long
exposure shot with a camera can capture extensive detail.
First, I assure you I am not a professional photographer. I have experimented with a
Digital SLR (one of the larger cameras with a detachable lens that you may see people
carrying around), and have slowly accumulated knowledge as I experiment. I will attempt
to impart a small amount of this knowledge onto you, the reader of this comment.
One of the most important things in a night shot is to stabilize the camera. The easiest
way to do this is with a tripod, but if you're in the backcountry trying to get a night
shot, a flat surface where the camera can sit and won't rock back and forth will suffice.
It is also convenient to get a remote timer, which allows you to press the shutter button
without touching the camera and risking blurring the picture.
The three main variables that control the amount of exposure of the camera's sensors to
light are shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. These all have a different effect on the
final picture. The ISO controls how sensitive the camera's sensors are to light coming
through the lens. A higher ISO with other variables unchanged will allow dark scenes to
be lighter, however images with higher ISO's tend to have much more 'noise' in them,
making it look lower quality.
The aperture of your camera controls the amount of light going through the lens. The
effect that this has is on the depth of field of a picture. Depth of field is the ability
for multiple objects at different distances from the camera to be in focus. With a lower
aperture, the image can be focused either on the foreground or on the background, however
with a higher aperture the image can be focused on both. More importantly, a higher
aperture means more light can hit the camera's sensors, allowing for a more exposed
picture.
The shutter speed changes the amount of time which the camera's sensors are exposed for.
The longer the shutter speed, the brighter the picture will be. Longer shutter speeds are
great for capturing star trails or movement, but the camera will then be very sensitive to
small movements when the shutter is open.
To get a better idea of what these three variables are, you can take a look here. Most, if not all DSLR's allow the user to change all of these
variables. If you have a point and shoot camera, don't despair! Every camera is
different, so see what variables you can change by taking a look at your camera's manual.
Even if you can't change the ISO or aperture, most cameras allow you to change the shutter
speed. Although the quality of the image may not be as flashy as those taken with
professional-grade DSLR's, you'll still have something impressive to show your friends.
Good luck!
Mike Dorfman – Weather Observer
 "see caption below")
100 mile visibility!
Starting to notice the unusually long stretch of quiet weather? We certainly are here on the summit, with the past 8 days not seeing any precipitation. Looking at the forecast, it may not be until mid-week that we have any real chance at rainfall (possibly 12 days). So with that said the potential exists for our shift to go more than an entire shift week (Wednesday to Wednesday) without seeing a single drop of rain or snowflake. After asking around, none of the observers on shift can recall more than about a 10 day stretch without precipitation. I decided to do a little research, and in the past 10 years (2013-2003) a week long precipitation-free stretch seems to happen about once a year, with only four 10 day stretches over the past 10 years, and nothing longer. Long duration dry spells are somewhat rare given the high amount of precipitation on the summit and since most storm tracks across the country end up crossing over New England.
So why are we currently seeing such a long stretch of dry weather? The answer lies in what meteorologists call an Omega Block. An Omega Block is so named because it resembles the Greek letter omega Ω on a pressure map. The typical setup has a large high pressure system sandwiched in between two low pressure areas. The high pressure blocks the path of the downstream low, preventing the storm from moving very quickly. This is currently occurring over the Midwest, where a large storm system has been producing heavy rain and even heavy snow in some areas for several days, while the Northeast and New England has enjoyed dry and relatively quiet weather for the past week thanks to the blocking high pressure. You can see an image of this current omega block here. The storm system over Arkansas is unable to move into our region because of a large area of high pressure over southern Canada. You can also pretty clearly see the Ω shape in the pressure lines at 500mb over the eastern U.S (don't worry about the colors).
Our closest shot at some precipitation occurred two days ago, when the blocking high briefly broke over New England as a backdoor cold front pushed in from the northeast. A few nearby locations did see light rain, but nothing ever fell on the summit. If we make it through Wednesday with no precipitation that would be 12 days total, the longest dry weather stretch the summit has seen in at least 10 years! I suppose even the "Home of the World's Worst Weather" gets to take a breather every once in a while.
Tom Padham – Summit Intern
 "see caption below")
Well, Hello!
Summer is nearly here, and I am purrrfectly content!
This week, the observers have begun to make some more preparations for the summer season, but I cannot be bothered with all of that--I have way too much lounging to do.
With the sun shining high in the sky this week, I've been able to venture outside every day and search for some flying squirrels. I have to be sure that my claws are sufficiently sharpened for the upcoming season, when I'm sure to see many more of them!
That's right, all of you adoring fans, its everyone's favorite Observatory mascot, Marty, begrudgingly writing another comment for those lazy observers! Nope, they cannot accuse me(-ow) of being lethargic anymore, considering how many times I've come to the rescue of those observers who seem at a loss purr words so often.
Are you looking forward to the summer season as much as I am? Do you want a chance to catch a glimpse of me in purr-son? Then be sure to visit the summit of Mount Washington this summer! I'm usually out and about when the sun is shining, catchin' some rays and some mice. Do you think you could spot me amidst the rocks of my Rock Pile Kingdom? Come on up to the summit and give it a try.
If my domain is decidedly doused in the dampness of dense fog, then you'll have to wander inside to find me. Am I out and about in the State Park Sherman Adams Building? Or, will you have to take a tour of the Observatory to find me slumbering in my indoor domain amongst the observers? You'll never know with me, so you'll just have to come visit a few times to try and catch a glimpse of this purrty kitty.
Now it's time for some nip, some treats, and some pretty kitty sleep.
Marty – Summit Cat
 "see caption below")
Cannon Cliff, where the Old Man once stood.
Writing from the top of one truly New Hampshire institution to another, tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of the collapse of the Old Man of the Mountain in Franconia Notch. The great profile stood, and still stands, as a cultural icon for the state of New Hampshire, with its chiseled and weathered face. Since the first recorded sighting of the old man in 1805, the old man inspired the imaginations of countless visitors to the site, including Daniel Webster who wrote:
Men hang out the signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makes hang out a gigantic show; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.
Much to everyone's dismay on May 3, 2003 during the early morning hours, the Old Man collapsed following the last freeze and thaw cycle he could take. In the build-up to the collapse the observatory reported a maximum of 44 degrees at the summit of Mount Washington at 12:00AM May 2nd, which then tumbled to a minimum of 16 degrees by 3:00AM on May 3rd, likely sealing the Old Man's fate.
It's encouraging for me to know that ten years later there are still plenty of people talking about the Old Man as I read the local news today. I'm even more encouraged to hear that the Observatory is hosting geologist Brian Fowler to speak about the Old Man's history, geology and reasons for its fall this Saturday at our Weather Discover Center in North Conway Village at 7:00PM. I would highly recommend to anyone in the valley (unfortunately I'll be up at work and can't attend!) that they should go and see Fowler's program that is F-R-E-E to the public. Follow the link here for more information.
Brian Fitzgerald – Weather Observer/Education Specialist
First and foremost, thank you! Our year-end fundraising campaign was a success, raising
more than $35,000 through over 400 individual donations. With over 80 years of history on
the summit, if it weren't for our generous members and donors, we simply would not be able
to exist up here. Whether you're an annual donor or just a fan of the observatory, thank
you for supporting us.
Shift change today went relatively smoothly. It was the first time since the fall that we
were able to take our four wheel drive van, with chains attached, completely to the summit.
Although we were sliding around a bit towards the top, getting a 35 minute van ride up to
the summit is much easier and more convenient than travelling up the road for at least an
hour using our snow cat. The summit is quickly shedding its winter coat, as rivers of
snowmelt seem to appear out of nowhere along the road. With T-shirt weather rapidly
approaching, the Observatory is preparing for the large crowds of summer summit visitors as
the Mount Washington Auto Road opens within the coming months. If you've never visited,
consider making the Mount Washington Observatory a
destination point this summer! I can honestly say its beautiful views and incredible
weather never cease to amaze me.
Mike Dorfman – Weather Observer
OUR PARTNERS
17:18 Fri May 17th
Today's Rime Ice
Winter is back...again!
Or is it? Actually, it's just another spring day on Mt. Washington.
Today, we've received freezing drizzle, freezing rain, ice pellets (sleet), and snow, accumulating to six-tenths of an inch.
How odd is that? Well, considering Mt. Washington averages 12.5 inches of snow for the month of May, it's not so strange.
Temperatures have hovered in the 25-30 degrees F range throughout the entire day, which, when coupled with thick fog, has resulted in significant rime ice and glaze ice accumulation on top of the summit. Overnight last night, the freezing level reached down to as low as 4000 feet, which has turned the higher summits white once again!
However, glancing ahead in the models, Mt. Washington's notoriously temperamental climate will have yet another mood swing in the coming days. A warm front has its sights set on New England, which should bring temperatures to above-average levels by early next week--with perhaps the mercury rising into the 50s.
All of that ice and snow will be history before it has any chance to get comfortable!
Mike Carmon – Weather Observer/Meteorologist