Sorry New Hampshirites- you lost a record

[Lt.Del]

Mt. Washington no longer holds the record for the fastest wind ever recorded on this planet.  First, Mt. Washington lost the Old Man (Vile and Harold probably know what i'm talking about) Then, the mark of 231 mph which was measured on the summit of 6,288' back in 1934 known as the Big Wind, was blown away by a speed of 253 mph on Barrow Island Australia in 1996...they just realized it this week.  Actually, the 'Old Man' rock cropping fell 7 yrs later in '03.

I think it was unfair how they measured the new wind, because there was a guy driving a 1979 Big 10 chevy pickup w/ a 383 stroker at full speed right next to the wind instruments, there was actually a natural wind speed of 10 mph at the time. 

So, the new world wind wecord (as Elmer Fudd would say) is now 253 mph.  Don't try to fire a weapon against that wind, you might end up with a hole between your eyes.

I will be crossing Mt. Washington in about 8 years as I make my way from Georgia to Maine along the 2,175 miles Appalachian Trail after retirement. I hope it isn't windy then.


record falls....  http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Mount+Washington's+wind+speed+record+has+been+blown+away&articleId=f9350a35-b0ee-426a-801b-59ef357c6d50




 

[smitty77]

This saddens me to a degree as I'm a HUGE Mt. Washington fan (and a member of the MW Observatory), but all records are made to be broken.  For what it's worth the wind gust in Australia was 3 seconds in duration while Mt. Washington's was 10 seconds long.

It's still a breezy place regardless of the record - they record hurricane force winds or stronger 1 out of every 3 days (on the average).  In the wake of yesterday's rain storm they saw a peak wind gust of 97mph and an average of 55.4mph for the day.  The weather observatory is staffed year-round.  All kinds of neat info can be found on their website:  http://www.mountwashington.org

Sorry SgtDel - I've climbed it 6 times and had nice weather once.  I've visited by car 4 times, and it's been calm on 2 occasions but those 2 times were planned that way - I checked their website to see the conditions the morning of our trip and scheduled our vacation around that visit.  When it's partly cloudy everywhere else the mountain is typically in the fog.

[Blazin]

Just to clarify. The Old Man was on Cannon Mountain over looking Echo Lake, & Franconia Notch.

[Lt.Del]

reading the following news article made me think that  Old Man was on Mt Washington for some reason...they don't even mention Cannon Mountain for some reason. But anyway, New Hampshaa lost both--the symbol on the state quarter and the record wind speed.  

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2010/01/Environment-Mt-Washington-wind-record-toppled-by-253-mph-gust/

R.I.P. Old Man --- 1 billion yrs B.C. to May 3, 2003 A.D.




http://home.comcast.net/~srdots/old_man_of_the_mountain.htm

[smitty77]

Tomorrow's forecast up there looks frigid to say the least:

Tomorrow:

In the clouds w/ a chance of snow showers.

Highs: around 20 below; wind chills 65-75 below°F

Wind: NW 80-100 mph w/ higher gusts

[Lt.Del]

i have nothing to complain about when compared to that forecast.  We're expecting 8 inches of snow fri night and saturday, but no, i'm not complaining one bit.

[smitty77]

Okay, last post from me on this one.  With the weather they get up there I could go on forever.....

Current conditions are blowing snow and freezing fog.

[Lt.Del]

reading the small print on the lower part of that it says winds 80 to 100mph with gusts higher.   Wow, there is a reason i don't live on that mountain.

HIGH is 20 BELOW.

[Blazin]

One of these years I want to go up and stay a few nights at the observatory.

[Lt.Del]

the way this winter is going, all i have to do is step outside.....2nd major snowstorm is hitting tonight...

calling for 6-12 inches outside my door tonight and tomorrow....