Winter makes an early appearance as Mount Washington records first measurable snow
Mount Washington recorded 0.7 inches of snow on Oct. 5, marking the first measurable snowfall of the season at the Northeast’s highest peak.
FILE: Insane winds topping 100 mph gust on New Hampshire's Mount Washington
Timelapse footage from Tuesday morning shows near whiteout conditions on Mount Washington leading up to a 103 mph wind gust. Mount Washington is known for its snowy, windy and icy conditions, leading to the mountain receiving the title of "World's worst weather."
THE TAKEAWAY
- Mount Washington recorded 0.7 inches of snow in its first measurable snowfall of the season.
- The summit averages nearly 24 feet of snow annually.
- Extreme winds, cold and ice are common as winter approaches.
MOUNT WASHINGTON, N.H. – The Northeast's highest peak has recorded its first measurable snowfall of the season as colder temperatures settle across the region’s tallest summits, signaling the changing season in the mountains.
On Oct. 5, nearly an inch of snow fell in 24 hours on New Hampshire's Mount Washington.
The first measurable snowfall of the season was recorded yesterday (October 5th), with 0.7" of snow measured over the last 24 hours. (@MWObs / X)
Standing at an elevation of 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest mountain in the northeastern United States, and is often the first location to see measurable snowfall in the region each fall.
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According to the Mount Washington Observatory’s climate normals, Mount Washington averages 55.8 inches of snow during meteorological fall, including 1.2 inches in September, 19 inches in October and 35.6 inches in November.
February 27, 2024: The sign for the Mount Washington Summit photographed in uncharacteristically clear weather. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Mount Washington is known for some of the harshest weather conditions in the Northeast, where hurricane-force winds, frigid temperatures and thick rim ice are common.
Monday's snowfall was accompanied by a thick rim of ice, subzero wind chills and a peak wind gust of 110 mph.
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On top of Mount Washington, snow is nothing out of the ordinary.
Observatory building at summit of Mt. Washington, New Hampshire on Sept. 15, 2025. (Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
According to the Mount Washington Observatory, the summit averages 281.8 inches of snow per year, or nearly 24 feet.
As fall deepens across New England, Mount Washington stands alone, creating a subarctic environment where hurricane-force winds, subfreezing temperatures and accumulating snow become part of a typical day at the summit.