Summit of Mt. Washinton endures its hottest summer in 73 years

Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast, notorious for fierce weather in all seasons and called the home of the "world's worst weather," could almost have been described as tranquil this summer.

While residents up and down the East Coast were struggling to beat the oppressive heat this summer, the summit staff of the Mount Washington Observatory experienced a heat wave of their own. Weather observers at the summit weather station recorded the warmest season in their 73-year history.

Temperature for the months of June, July and August on Mount Washington averaged 51.4 degrees, which shattered the old record of 50.3 degrees, set in 1937. By comparison, over the period 1935-2005, the average temperature for these summer months is 47.0 degrees

Also, for the record books, it was the first time that three consecutive months each averaged 50 degrees or higher on the mountain.

"The record wasn't a surprise by the time the summer numbers were analyzed. The month of June this year was the warmest June on record, and the heat persisted throughout the summer. Thirty-four days topped 60 degrees this season, compared with just seven all last year," explained Observer Neil Lareau, who lives and works on the summit.

Only one daily record high was set, when temperatures reached 68 degrees on August 8.The warmest temperature ever recorded at the station is 72 degrees, set in 1975 and tied in 2003.

Does this data reflect a warming trend at the summit? Observatory staff scientist Tom Seidel noted that while the annual average temperature at the summit increased by 0.6 degrees from 1935 to 2003, most of the warming is seen in winter and spring, not in summer. "It is interesting that this summer, the warmest recorded, broke only one daily maximum yet had many days above 60 degrees."

Summit staff dealt with the unaccustomed heat by occasionally wearing shorts. "I was expecting to experience a summer with temperatures around 45 degrees, and had plenty of fall gear," remarked Observatory intern Andrew Freedman. "I definitely over-packed."

The Observatory staff do not, despite the record-setting warmth of the summer months, offer any notion of how this winter may play out. Weather observers at the summit of Mount Washington and in your neighborhood will have to wait and see, and be ready for what Mother Nature delivers.

For more information, contact the Observatory at Box 2310, North Conway NH 03860, (603) 356-2137 or (800) 706-0432, or visit the Observatory's website at www.mountwashington.org.