It’s been a cold January, even by Mount Washington’s extreme standards.
On Thursday morning, January 30, the Mount Washington Observatory recorded temperatures of 22 degrees below zero. According to a post on the observatory’s Facebook page, it was the coldest temperature on the summit this season.
Staff also recorded wind gusts exceeding 100 mph. (Check out what 100 mph winds can do to a hiker.)
It has been a relatively cold month atop Mount Washington. The summit has averaged 2 degrees above zero, 4 degrees below the most recent 30-year average.
High temperatures on the summit have been below zero on seven days this winter, and on 12 days the low temperature has been at or below 10 degrees below zero.
As of Wednesday, January 29, this has been the coldest January since 2015 and third coldest January since 2005.