Winter makes an early appearance as Mount Washington records first measurable snow
Mount Washington recorded its first measurable snowfall of the season, with 0.7 inches measured at the summit as winter-like conditions arrived across the Northeast.
THE TAKEAWAY
MOUNT WASHINGTON, N.H. – The Northeast's highest peak has recorded its first measurable snowfall of the season as colder temperatures settle across the region’s tallest summits, signaling the changing season in the mountains.
On Oct. 5, nearly an inch of snow fell in 24 hours on New Hampshire's Mount Washington.
Standing at an elevation of 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest mountain in the northeastern United States, and is often the first location to see measurable snowfall in the region each fall.
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According to the Mount Washington Observatory’s climate normals, Mount Washington averages 55.8 inches of snow during meteorological fall, including 1.2 inches in September, 19 inches in October and 35.6 inches in November.
Mount Washington is known for some of the harshest weather conditions in the Northeast, where hurricane-force winds, frigid temperatures and thick rim ice are common.
Monday's snowfall was accompanied by a thick rim of ice, subzero wind chills and a peak wind gust of 110 mph.
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On top of Mount Washington, snow is nothing out of the ordinary.
According to the Mount Washington Observatory, the summit averages 281.8 inches of snow per year, or nearly 24 feet.
As fall deepens across New England, Mount Washington stands alone, creating a subarctic environment where hurricane-force winds, subfreezing temperatures and accumulating snow become part of a typical day at the summit.
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