The Observatory holds a strong tradition of education. The original Mount Washington Observatory building chained down in the winter Source 2: Mount Washington Observatory (extremes 1933–present) Climatic data Ĭlimate data for Mount Washington, elev. The Sherman Adams summit building, named for the 67th Governor of New Hampshire, houses the observatory it is closed to the public during the winter and hikers are not allowed inside the building except for emergencies and pre-arranged guided tours. Washington most likely did not have the world's worst weather). The observatory makes prominent use of the slogan 'Home of the World's Worst Weather', a claim that originated with a 1940 article by Charles Brooks (the man generally given the majority of credit for creating the Mount Washington Observatory), titled 'The Worst Weather In the World' (even though the article concluded that Mt. Where most unstaffed weather stations have undergone technology upgrades, consistent use of the sling psychrometer has helped provide scientific precision to the Mount Washington climate record. Temperature and humidity readings have been collected using a sling psychrometer, a simple device containing two mercury thermometers. The observatory's weather data have accumulated into a valuable climate record since.

On April 12, 1934, the observatory staff recorded a wind gust of 231 mph that at the time was the highest recorded wind speed in the world, a record that was held until 1996. Starting in 1932, the current observatory began keeping records. Signal Service, a predecessor to the Weather Bureau, occupied the summit and kept records from 1870 to 1892. Also during that month, 49.3 inches of snow fell within 24 hours, making it the highest 24-hour snowfall total on record at the summit.The U.S. However, the snowiest month on record is February 1969 when 172.8 inches of snow fell. Washington is December, with an average of 45.5 inches of snow.

(MORE: When the First Snow of the Season Typically Falls) Washington in July 1957, and 2.5 inches was measured in August 1965. In fact, 1.1 inches of snow was measured atop Mt. Even in the summer, July averages a trace of snow and August averages 0.1 inches of snow. Measurable snow has been recorded in each month of the year at Mt. I got frostbite on the tip of my nose in less than 30 seconds.'Īs expected, snow and ice are common up at 6,288 feet. Washington Observatory, Samuel Hewitt, told, 'In January 2014, I experienced 120-mph winds in 26 degrees below-zero temperatures, which equates to a wind chill of roughly 80 degrees below zero. In the winter, on average, hurricane-force winds are observed once every three days and 100-mph winds once a week.Ī former intern at Mt. Washington keep temperatures from reaching 50 below zero or colder in the winter, but the wind chill certainly makes up for it. Washington Observatory has been as cold as 47 degrees below zero in January 1934. On the other end of the spectrum, the Mt. (MORE: July is the Warmest Time of the Year for Much of the U.S.) In fact, in July, the warmest time of the year for much of the Northeast, temperatures have dipped as low as 24 degrees on Mt. Washington has not recorded a below-zero temperature are June, July, August and September. Washington and over 5,200 feet lower in elevation, has reached 98 degrees on two separate occasions. For comparison, Berlin, New Hampshire, less than 30 miles to the north of Mt. Washington is 72 degrees, which occurred in both August 1975 and June 2003. The warmest temperature ever recorded at the summit of Mt. Wind speeds are measured by an anemometer (a pitot tube) and the observer pulls the value off the computer – this is one observation that is technically done indoors, though the anemometer itself, of course, is outdoors. ( MORE: See Current Summit Conditions | Five-Day Forecast) Washington Observatory are compiled by a human weather observer who goes outside to brave the dangerous elements. Weather observations and forecasts at Mt. The observatory is a non-profit organization dependent on donors. Meteorologists and researchers continue learning more about our atmosphere each day from their work at the summit of Mt. Washington Observatory and continued the work of the United States Signal Service. 15, 1932, a group of civilians founded the modern-day Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, is located about 132 miles north of downtown Boston.

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