Who are we: The Mount Washington
Observatory?
a.
The Mount Washington Observatory is a private,
nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance the
understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate.
It serves this mission by maintaining a weather station on the summit of Mount
Washington, performing weather and climate research, conducting innovative
science and education programs, and interpreting the heritage of the Mount
Washington Region.
b.
We are funded through various means:
2.
Where can you find us at the Mount Washington
Observatory? *
a.
Downtown North Conway, NH
i.
*Administrative Offices: Generally open
Monday - Friday
ii.
*Weather
Discovery Center: is an interactive science museum that brings
the wonder of the atmosphere right to your fingertips.
iii.
*Gladys
Brooks Memorial Library: features a large collection of materials
related to the White Mountains, the Arctic, and the Antarctic. The collection
includes books, maps, prints, photographs, and artifactual material.
b.
Summit of Mount Washington, NH
i.
*Extreme
Mount Washington: delivers the science and excitement of a
Mount Washington winter to summer visitors of all ages through high-tech, hands
on exhibits.
ii.
*Observatory
Weather Station: Go Behind the scenes of our famous mountaintop weather station
and get a taste for what it’s like to live and work at 6,288 feet.
3.
How do I support the Mount Washington
Observatory or become a member?
a.
Membership: Joining
as a member not only supports the work we do as a private, non-profit, but
offers you a variety of exclusive and valuable benefits.
b.
Fundraising
Events: Seek the Peak is the premier fundraiser of the Mount Washington
Observatory. You can join individually or on a team for this hike-a-thon
c.
* Volunteering:
Opportunities are available at both our mountaintop weather station and valley
administrative offices.
d.
Supporting
MWObs: Even if you choose not be become a member, you can always
support the work we do!
e.
Sponsorship: Opportunities to sponsor the
Mount Washington Observatory can come in many forms. Please contact Krissy Fraser
at kfraser@mountwashington.org for more
detailed information.
4.
How can you access the Summit of Mount
Washington
a.
Summer:
i.
Mount Washington Observatory – Visit the
summit on a Summit
Adventure experience.
ii.
Mount
Washington Auto Road – drive yourself or join a guided tour.
iii.
Mount
Washington Cog Railway – offers round trip access by way of a cog
railway.
iv.
Hiking – many trails around Mount Washington
offer access to the summit. For trail selection and conditions contacting the Appalachian Mountain Club is
advised.
b.
Winter
i.
Mount Washington Observatory – Visit the
summit on a Summit
Adventure experience.
ii.
Hiking – winter trails still access the summit
our Mount Washington, however winter hiking and mountaineering skills are
needed. The Appalachian Mountain Club should be
contacted for trail selection and conditions. Additional guided services can
also be secured through Eastern Mountain Sports.
5.
How do we operate the summit weather station?
a.
The Mount Washington Observatory’s mountaintop
weather station has been staffed continuously since it’s founding in 1932. It
is operated by two alternating crews of Observers who live on the summit for a
week at a time taking hourly weather observations around the clock, performing
research, producing higher summits forecasts, and conducting educational
programs. Each shift is comprised on two day observers and one night observer
ensuring around the clock attention.
6.
What makes Mount Washington’s weather so
extreme especially for a small peak compared to other North American Mountains?
a.
Height: Mount Washington is the highest peak
in the Northeast allowing for little to no obstruction of winds as they reach
the summit.
b.
Storm Tracks: The Northeast is a frequently
stormy area in general, with a new storms moving through the area every 3 days
on average.
c.
Topography: the unique topography of the White
Mountains has a funneling affect that causes winds to further accelerate over
the summit.
d.
*More Information: to learn more about
Mount Washington’s extreme weather visit Extreme
Mount Washington on the summit or the Weather
Discovery Center in North Conway.
7.
Where can I find current weather data and
forecasts?
a.
Current
Summit Conditions: current weather can be found on our current
summit conditions page.
b.
*Higher
Summit Forecast: is produced internally for the higher summits of the White
Mountains and is recorded twice daily in the AM and PM
8.
What is our collected data used for?
a.
Climate Record – continuing to build our 87+
year long term data record on the summit.
b.
National Weather Service – Hourly weather and
climate data is fed into models that help meteorologists forecast the weather.
c.
Local and National Newscasts – Data and other
media is shared across varying new outlets.
d.
Research – Data can be requested for
various climatological and meteorological research projects.
e.
Education: Data collected on the summit of
Mount Washington is used to help develop curriculum that support student’s
learning in natural, physical and data sciences. One such project is WeatherX.