Mount Washington, known for its ferocious weather, presents a formidable challenge for any weather instrumentation. Sitting at 6,288 feet, the highest peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is notorious for its hurricane-force winds, subfreezing temperatures, and relentless rime ice accumulation. Despite its modest elevation, the conditions on Mount Washington rival those of some of the world’s tallest peaks. The Mount Washington Observatory, a manned weather station, continuously monitors these extreme conditions. The harsh environment pushes both equipment and personnel to their absolute limits, requiring innovative solutions and rugged instrumentation, like R.M. Young Company’s, to ensure accurate data collection.
The Challenge of Extreme Conditions
The summit of Mount Washington averages over 281 inches of snow per season, with a record seasonal snowfall of 566.4 inches. Temperatures can plummet to -47°F, while winds frequently exceed hurricane force, with a recorded peak of 231 mph in 1934—a world record at the time. These conditions make accurate meteorological observations exceptionally difficult. The combination of wind, ice, and moisture subjects every instrument to extraordinary stress, demanding constant maintenance and rapid troubleshooting to prevent failures.
Subfreezing temperatures combined with foggy conditions result in the production of rime ice, a major challenge for collecting accurate weather data. With the summit’s annual average temperature at 28°F and fog present about 60% of the year, rime ice forms on all surfaces, including instrumentation, at rates of up to six to nine inches per hour in extreme cases. While some instruments can be heated, the combination of cold temperatures and high winds often makes heating inefficient and costly, and some instruments simply cannot be heated at all. As a result, frequent manual de-icing by weather observers is necessary to keep sensors operational. Staffed around the clock, observers battle hurricane-force winds, subfreezing temperatures, and significant blowing snow—sometimes being pinned to the mount by 100-mph gusts, forced to wait for a lull before moving again, all while being shaken like a paint mixer. The relentless wind vibrations loosen screws, compromise mounting systems, and occasionally cause instruments to be lost entirely. In these extreme conditions, observers must perform constant maintenance, installation, and troubleshooting to ensure instruments remain ice-free and functional.
Rime ice whiteout conditions
Instrument Failures and Maintenance Strategies
Failures are inevitable in such an extreme environment. Every piece of equipment deployed on Mount Washington has failed at some point, often in unique and unpredictable ways. Nearly every day, multiple anemometers require maintenance. Redundant systems and rapid response capabilities allow the Observatory
to minimize data loss. When an instrument fails, the first priority is diagnosing the root cause, which can range from mechanical fatigue to ice infiltration. Observers work closely with instrument manufacturers to relay failure data and improve designs.
Given the unpredictability of failures, the Observatory maintains multiple backup instruments. Redundant wind speed measurements, for example, involve at least six anemometers deployed in favorable conditions, and four that should survive and operate up to 150 miles per hour during extreme weather. The goal is to ensure continuous data collection, even when multiple sensors succumb to the elements. Some instruments require extensive repairs and must be transported to the valley shop, a process that can take over a week depending on the availability of transportation to the summit.
Observer installing an R.M. Young Wind Monitor
R.M. Young’s Role in Reliable Data Collection
R.M. Young Company has a long history with Mount Washington Observatory, dating back over forty years. Their anemometers and other sensors have been a staple at the Observatory for decades. The R.M. Young 05108-45, Heavy Duty Alpine Wind Monitor, in particular, has proven itself as one of the most reliable and accurate instruments available for measuring wind in extreme environments.
During the summer months, the Wind Monitor serves as the Observatory’s “gold standard” wind sensor, meaning its measurements are used as the official recorded wind speeds. The Wind Monitor has a wide operating range from less than one meter per second to more than 100 meters per second, which is incredibly important for a complete dataset. Compared to the Observatory’s four pitot anemometers, the Wind Monitor consistently delivers wind speed measurements within a 1% margin of error.
Beyond wind measurement, R.M. Young instruments play a crucial role in temperature monitoring. The Observatory relies on R.M. Young platinum temperature probes and multi-plate radiation shields at both the summit station and across a network of mesonet stations. In addition to temperature sensors, these mesonet stations are also equipped with R.M. Young Wind Monitors, ensuring reliable wind data collection in remote and exposed locations.
Over the next year, up to 30 additional mesonet stations will be deployed in the White Mountain region, most of which will be positioned in exposed areas to record wind data. Each of these stations will be equipped with an R.M. Young Wind Monitor, chosen for its reliability, accuracy, low power consumption, and ease of maintenance. In addition to wind measurement, all new stations will feature R.M. Young temperature probes and multi-plate radiation shields to ensure precise and consistent temperature data collection.
Performance Compared to Other Instruments
While a variety of anemometers are tested at the Observatory, R.M. Young’s instruments stand out for their durability, accuracy, and ease of maintenance. The Wind Monitor’s ability to function reliably in mountainous terrain makes it ideal for deployment across the Observatory’s expanding mesonet network. Additionally, its low power consumption makes it a practical choice for remote stations where power budgets are limited.
Observers also appreciate the simplicity of servicing R.M. Young instruments. The Wind Monitor can be repaired on-site with minimal tools, typically requiring only a screwdriver or hex key. Given the harsh conditions and frequent maintenance needs, this ease of repairability is a significant advantage. Instruments that require frequent software or firmware updates are generally avoided at the Observatory, making the analog reliability of R.M. Young’s sensors even more valuable.
Photo courtesy of Cyrena Arnold
Capturing Historic Weather Events
Mount Washington’s extreme weather has been meticulously documented over the years, with R.M. Young instruments playing a vital role in capturing critical data. R.M. Young’s continuous presence at the Observatory ensures that essential measurements are available whenever extreme conditions occur. From hurricane-force gusts and subzero temperatures to rapid icing events, these instruments help build a comprehensive understanding of the region’s harsh climate.
Over the past seven years, Mount Washington has recorded 227 hours of hurricane-force winds using an R.M. Young Wind Monitor, including a peak wind speed of 123 mph on August 4, 2020. While summer winds are typically lower than those in winter, speeds exceeding 100 mph were measured as recently as August 9, 2024, by an R.M. Young instrument. R.M. Young regularly sends equipment to Mount Washington for real-world testing in extreme conditions, ensuring durability and accuracy in the harshest environments. One such project supported preparations for a Mount Everest expedition, where reliable wind measurements were essential for success.
Lessons for Deploying Instruments in Extreme Environments
For organizations looking to deploy weather stations in harsh conditions, the Mount Washington Observatory offers valuable insights. The most important lesson is that no instrument is invincible—failures will happen, and redundancy is crucial. Equipment selection should prioritize durability and long-term support. Devices that require frequent updates or software maintenance may be impractical in extreme environments where servicing is difficult.
Mounting and installation methods should be continuously refined. Vibrations, ice loads, and extreme winds can loosen or destroy improperly secured instruments. Field repairs should be simple and require minimal tools. Observers on Mount Washington operate under the philosophy that if a device cannot survive being thrown from a moving vehicle at highway speeds, it is unlikely to endure summit conditions for long.
Conclusion
Mount Washington Observatory provides an unparalleled testing ground for weather instrumentation. The extreme conditions demand instruments that are not only accurate but also rugged and easily serviceable. R.M. Young’s sensors have demonstrated their resilience in this unforgiving environment, playing a crucial role in the Observatory’s mission to monitor and understand the world’s worst weather. As technology evolves and new challenges emerge, the lessons learned from Mount Washington will continue to shape the future of meteorological instrumentation in extreme environments.
Special thanks to Keith Garrett and Mike Carmon of the Mount Washington Observatory for their invaluable contributions to this case study.
This article was first published in the April issue of Meteorological Technology International.