MOUNT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF OUR NEW SUMMIT CAT, NIMBUS
North Conway, NH – May 6, 2021 - The staff of Mount Washington Observatory (MWO) have adopted a new
cat, Nimbus, who will be living on the summit of Mount Washington.
Cats have been a part of the observatory
family since its founding in 1932. Prior to the New Year, our summit weather
station lost its longtime resident cat Marty, who was beloved by MWO staff,
Mount Washington State Park employees, and thousands of visitors from around the
world. Earlier this spring, MWO Summit Operations Manager Rebecca
Scholand began the search for a new cat, working closely with the Conway Area
Humane Society (CAHS).
“With the passing of Marty in late 2020,
we started the search for a new cat knowing it would have big paws to fill,”
Scholand said. “The summit cat is such a special part of our living environment
on the summit, making it feel much more like a home on our week-long
shifts.”
After meeting with four cat candidates
from CAHS, our observers all agreed on a Gray Shorthair, and with staff input,
the name Nimbus was chosen. Our new gray summit cat will share his name with
large gray clouds that bring precipitation. The prefix “nimbo” or suffix
"nimbus" can be attached to a cloud type, such as nimbostratus or
cumulonimbus, signifying that the cloud is precipitating.
Nimbus’ journey began in Oklahoma with
the Skiatook Paws and Claws Animal Rescue before he was transferred to CAHS.
After quite a winding road, he was officially welcomed to the summit of
Mount Washington on April 14, 2021. Our observers tell us Nimbus is a very
sociable cat who uses a wide variety of meows, chatters and purrs to keep their
attention and express happiness with his new home.
About Mount Washington Observatory:
Mount Washington Observatory is a
private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance
understanding of the natural systems that create Earth's weather and climate.
Since 1932, the Observatory has been monitoring the elements from its weather
station on the summit of Mount Washington, using this unique site for
scientific research and educational outreach. For more information, call (800)
706-0432 or visit MountWashington.org.