Summit of Mt. Washington
E=6288
DNA and Stumpy at the Tip Top House, Mt. Washington summit. The weather had turned on that coin. Literally as we summitted, the ceiling descended upon us to white-out the summit. Winds were solid but not brutal. Inside, the weather monitoring station said it was 35-45 with gusts to 60. There were monitors and displays of weather radar, front maps, and amusing video of a couple attempting to set up a picnic on the outside observation deck while the wind was over 80 mph. Tablecloth, plates, cups, food filing off as they were removed from the picnic basket. The basket flying off. The couple leaning into the wind like cartoon characters while trying to walk to the doors and shelter within.
Washington has a number of unique attributes. The highest surface winds recorded on the planet (231 mph) is one of them. Over 100 inches of rain a year is another. This region is reported to be at the intersection of three common weather regions, an apex of unsettled and shifting conditions. We're here on a 'mild' day, as things go for this hill.