View Full Version : MT. Washington no longer the windiest place
http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/foss/2010/jan/28/second-windiest-place/
http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/mt-washington-no-longer-windiest-place.html
Mt. Washington No Longer The Windiest Place On Earth
For years, Mt. Washington, located in the state of New Hampshire here in the U.S., has been described as the windiest place on Earth, thanks to a 75 year old record for the highest wind speed ever recorded. The mark was set back in 1934, when gusts reached a speed of 231 miles per hour on the summit of the 6,288 foot peak, which is legendary for it's incredibly bad weather.
Now, according to the Adventure Life, that record has been wrestled away from Mt. Washington, and the new crown has been handed over to the Aussies. It seems that when cyclone Olivia hit barrow island back in 1996, it generated winds of 253 miles per hour, smashing those light breezes on Mt. Washington.
Why did it take so long to discover these wind speeds? Apparently a group of scientists were recently combing through weather and climate data, and discovered the mighty wind. Once it was discovered however, the findings were reported to meteorological services, and the new record became recognized, taking a little pride away from those that live on and around Mt. Washington.
Never fear though. The mountain still has plenty to brag about. It is a challenging climb in good weather conditions, and it's notoriously bad winters make it a tough test in the snow. It has even managed to make the list of some of the most dangerous mountains to climb. Not something you'd expect out of a peak that is less than 6300 feet in height.
My bad. It appears this is old news.
Ox97GaMe
01-24-2011, 19:19
and it is inaccurate. Mt Washington is over 6600 ft last time I checked.
Lone Wolf
01-24-2011, 19:22
and it is inaccurate. Mt Washington is over 6600 ft last time I checked.
nope. 6288 ft.
Yeah but that's during a hurricane. Record is invalid due to PED.
Skidsteer
01-24-2011, 19:26
Still pretty windy though (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrbD9NWkp7E).
Well I guess you could say Mt.Washington is the windiest place on Earth but it no longer has the highest recorded wind speed.
sheepdog
01-24-2011, 20:51
gets pretty windy around here :D
and it is inaccurate. Mt Washington is over 6600 ft last time I checked.
6288'. Says so at the summit. It's Clingman's Dome, Mt. Mitchell and a couple others in the Tenn-NC area which are > 6600.
Snowleopard
01-24-2011, 22:09
The mean minimum temperature for April on Barrow Island, W.Australia, is 23.9C (75F), so the windchill was 75F. I can't find the temperature for Mt. Washington on the day that set the old record, but the record high for the month is 60F. Mt.W.'s wind chill was off the charts.
The Old Fhart
01-24-2011, 23:23
Driver8-"6288'. Says so at the summit."To be precise the benchmark on the summit says 6288.176 feet. That measurement was taken by Brad Washburn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Washburn) so I'd tend to believe it. If you stand on top of the observatory tower (as I have countless times) you can reach just over 6300')
4eyedbuzzard
01-24-2011, 23:38
To be precise the benchmark on the summit says 6288.176 feet.I KNEW it was taller than 6288 - the 6288 is easy, but that last .176 really kicks your @$$.
That measurement was taken by Brad Washburn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Washburn) so I'd tend to believe it. It does seem like he might know a thing or two more than most of us about it.
Captain Blue
01-24-2011, 23:58
Note that this claim is for the highest wind speed *recorded* on earth. The keyword here is recorded. Meteorologists estimate that the wind speed of some tornados can reach over 300 mph They have yet to officially measure the speed as such. One day they will and the highest wind speed record on earth will belong to an area as flat as Kansas.
Captain Blue
01-25-2011, 00:02
Mt Washington is over 6600 ft last time I checked.
Once upon a time Mount Washington was over 6,600 feet in elevation. It may have been a very long, long time since he checked.
I KNEW it was taller than 6288 - the 6288 is easy, but that last .176 really kicks your @$$.
Hey, what's two inches between friends. (double entendres go here. ...)
gipcgirl
01-25-2011, 00:23
http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/foss/2010/jan/28/second-windiest-place/
http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/mt-washington-no-longer-windiest-place.html
Mt. Washington No Longer The Windiest Place On Earth
For years, Mt. Washington, located in the state of New Hampshire here in the U.S., has been described as the windiest place on Earth, thanks to a 75 year old record for the highest wind speed ever recorded. The mark was set back in 1934, when gusts reached a speed of 231 miles per hour on the summit of the 6,288 foot peak, which is legendary for it's incredibly bad weather.
Now, according to the Adventure Life, that record has been wrestled away from Mt. Washington, and the new crown has been handed over to the Aussies. It seems that when cyclone Olivia hit barrow island back in 1996, it generated winds of 253 miles per hour, smashing those light breezes on Mt. Washington.
Why did it take so long to discover these wind speeds? Apparently a group of scientists were recently combing through weather and climate data, and discovered the mighty wind. Once it was discovered however, the findings were reported to meteorological services, and the new record became recognized, taking a little pride away from those that live on and around Mt. Washington.
Never fear though. The mountain still has plenty to brag about. It is a challenging climb in good weather conditions, and it's notoriously bad winters make it a tough test in the snow. It has even managed to make the list of some of the most dangerous mountains to climb. Not something you'd expect out of a peak that is less than 6300 feet in height.
Well well well, I'm glad the record has come to us good on ya WEst Australia. I stood on top of Mt Washington on the 10th of September last year having spent the night at Lakes of the clouds huts (work for stay) That last mile or so from the hut up to the summit in wind rain sleet hail ice and you name it took me ages and I was soaked by the time the top was reached. At least I made it . Lots of hikers have perished on the way up or down. I will allways remember that awesome day.
fredmugs
01-25-2011, 08:29
I summitted Mt Washington around July 7th last year and it was in the 60s with zero wind. It was actually too warm. Going up was cake - going down sucked.