Presidentials Weather Question (A little odd)

[bignslow]

Does anyone know of any websites that chronicle the weather patterns on the presies? The reason I'm asking is Nicole and I are 10 peaks + a pressie traverse short of finishing the 48 and we'd like to finish this summer. That being said I don't want to shell out all the money for the huts (planning 1 day to Madison, 1 day to Clouds, 1 day out) and have bad/no views.

Optimally I would like to at least know I have probability on my side to say it typically rains/storms on one day more than another. Obviously I know probabilities make no guarantees, plus I know it is naive to think I can do anything to get better weather for the hike, but I figured it is worth a try.

Any advice is appreciated.

Additionally if you have any advice regarding when to stay at the huts, and when to avoid them that would be appreciated as well. We'll probably be going late June/ early July or August.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[smitty77]

IIRC, one has better chances of clear days as you start to lose the summer humidity and get into cooler days and nights after Labor Day. Anytime in July or early August holds the potential for thunderstorms, and the associated hazy summer skies can limit views significantly even if there are no clouds or threats of rain. Mid September seems to be where it's at, and maybe New Hampshire or SilentCal can confirm this but I think the Flags on the 48 memorial event (to remember those lost during 9/11) has had more nice days than washouts in its 8 year history (2 to 1 margin?).

I know that time frame was not in your stated itinerary, but I think it's worth considering. Two years ago I took the family up the auto road on July 5, and we had heavy rain and thunderstorms on the 4th and the mountain was obscured by clouds on the 6th.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

September is traditionally the nicest weather month in New England. I got married in September with that in mind (outdoor reception.) The huts do close mid-September, however.

Here is a chronicle of data as requested - not in the most convenient form...

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/f6/


Tim

 

[bignslow]

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately we're locked into July/August because Nicole is a teacher and we would like to finish before the end of summer.

Tim: That data is pretty much what I'm looking for, I can take the time to extract it out of PDF.

 

[grouseking]

That is definitely a good link. I also recommend checking back in with the site and follow the weather as it moves into spring and then summer. It will give you an idea of how quickly things can change up there. Plus, the observatory staff do a great job coming up with their own higher summits forecast located here.

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/summit_forecast.php

Best of luck on finishing the peaks!!

grouseking

 

[audrey]

The later, the better. For years, we would do an annual Mizpah-Lakes-Madison (or reverse) trip in late June. More than half the time we encountered terrible weather on the ridge and would either have to bail or descend and reascend.

Of course, when we did get glorious weather, it was sublime, with the alpine flowers as a bonus.

September/early October, on the other hand, is almost always OK, either for the huts that are still open then or for backpacking anywhere, notwithstanding a bit of snow.

 

[Stan]

I'm not even sure you can bet the odds let alone predict long term in New England weather. The challenge is even less hopeful in the adverse microclimates of the mountains where our assumption has always been that it will be bad and then thank our lucky stars when it was nice ... which seems to be far more than the averages would predict ... but then, maybe, we're in for a balancing out the averages.

My suggestions is to make your plans in such a way that you can live with whatever the weather is apt to throw at you in July and August ... let's see ... thundershowers, dense fog, freezing rain ...

... then again, there's always the Old Farmers Almanac. There's a bet I'd make, that the prediction there will stack up well against anything else our self deceptions might conjure up!

 

[DougPaul]

Unfortunately we're locked into July/August because Nicole is a teacher and we would like to finish before the end of summer.

Late July or August would be your best bet if you have to choose a date well in advance. Tends to be drier and fewer bugs.

Of course, any individual day can still be good or bad...

Doug