Overview
- The Mount Washington summit recorded the season’s first measurable snow on Monday, about 0.7 inches, with thick rime ice, subzero wind chills and a peak gust of 110 mph reported by the Mount Washington Observatory.
- A wind-chill advisory covered the summit through Tuesday evening and the Mount Washington Auto Road posted photos showing snow on pavement while noting vehicle access only reaches about 4,200 feet of the 6,288-foot peak.
- Forecasters expect temperatures to warm to near 40°F with a chance of rain as winds gradually ease, but they warned hurricane‑force gusts could linger and keep trails slippery until snow and ice melt.
- Mount Washington’s long-term climate puts this event in context: the summit averages roughly 281.8 inches of snow a year and routinely sees fierce winds and heavy ice even when the timing of first snow shifts year to year.
- Visitors and hikers should prepare for hazardous conditions on higher trails and limited summit access in the days ahead as this early snow begins the seasonal accumulation cycle for the White and Green mountains.