1. Mountain Weather MITOC Winter School 2001 Dave Andersen

2. Why Weather? Mt. Washington, 1/10/2001, 12:48pm: 0 degrees F; 54MPH wind, wind chill: -54

3. Weather Changes January 1: Temperature 3 degrees; Snow, freezing fog, wind chill –50 Visibility: 100 feet

4. Weather Safety Check the forecast –Forecasts are not always right –New England weather changes rapidly! Stay alert to weather changes –Clouds and winds provide big hints

5. Mountains get bad weather

6. Cirrus Clouds High altitude clouds; good weather, possible rain in 12-24 hours for some types

7. Cumulus Clouds Nice weather, but keep an eye out

8. Nimbostratus Clouds Lower (2000m) clouds Rain or snow coming soon

9. Cumulonimbus Clouds with vertical growth (“Anvils”) (May not see the anvil when close) Heavy rain, snow, hail, lightning!

10. Blue Skies Good weather has its downsides too: The Sun (it’s a mass of incandescent gas…) Sunburn can be serious –Light and U/V reflected by snow and ice –Sunburned retinas and mouths are not fun Sunscreen, long-sleeved clothing, and sunglasses will make you happier

11. Weather Summary Check forecasts, check the skies often –Neither is a perfect predictor, so be prepared. We’ve given a basic intro; there are two good weather websites linked from our web page. Take-home lesson: STAY ALERT. Weather changes rapidly.