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.