It was the strongest wind gust on Mount Washington in six years.
Mount Washington in New Hampshire is known for its strong winds. But the winds are Monday were exceptional, even by the brutal standards of the notorious peak.
According to the Mount Washington Observatory, the peak wind gust on Mount Washington Monday was 161 miles per hour.
That’s the strongest gust on the mountain since a gust of 171 miles per hour on February 25, 2019. Observatory officials said it is tied for the 19th highest daily gust since 1935.
For reference, Category 5 hurricane winds are 157 miles per hour or greater. This is what a person in 100 mile-per-hour winds on the Mount Washington summit looks like.
The winds on Mount Washington Monday afternoon were a sustained 125 to 135 miles per hour, with frequent gusts into the 140s.
Officials said the observatory’s indoor barometer was literally off the chart due to the high winds acting as suction out of the doors.