The Mount Washington Observatory records wind speeds and weather conditions at the summit of Mount Washington. (Photo by Jose Azel/Getty Images)
Mount Washington is the highest point in the Northeast and is known for its extreme weather, with winds exceeding hurricane speeds more than 100 days a year.
It is considered home to the “worst weather in the world” for three main reasons. First, at 6,288 feet (1,917 meters), it is the highest mountain in New England. Winds are strongest when they are free to blow, and the mountain is exposed to westerly winds that travel for hundreds of miles unimpeded. The closest mountain formations of similar height to Mount Washington are in the Black Hills of South Dakota, about 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers) away, according to the observatory.
Not only do these winds hit Mount Washington with full force, they are amplified by the surrounding landscape. The mountains to the west form a 75-mile-wide (120-kilometer) funnel that funnels westerly winds toward the mountain, increasing their speed to dizzying levels, according to the observatory.
Finally, Mount Washington sits at the intersection of three major storm tracks. Storms hit its summit on average every three days during the winter, bringing strong winds and large amounts of rain, according to the observatory. Mount Washington's precipitation record was set in 1969, when 4.1 feet (1.3 m) of snow fell in 24 hours.
Due to its unique location, Mount Washington is a candidate for the world's highest wind speed. On “calm” summer days, instruments on its summit record wind speeds of 40 mph (65 km/h). But when storms roll in, gusts can reach more than 100 mph (160 km/h).
While we were checking the instruments were working, the summit crew took some time to show us (safely) what 100 mph winds look like… and it was fun. Join us tonight at 5pm for the Higher Summits weekend forecast on Facebook Live. pic.twitter.com/6TSShijLgkMarch 7, 2025
On April 12, 1934, instruments at the summit recorded a record wind speed of 231 mph (372 km/h), equivalent to the wind speed of a Level 5 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Such winds are powerful enough to knock down well-built buildings, carry away structures with unstable foundations, and throw cars considerable distances. This record remains the second-fastest natural wind gust ever recorded, the fastest of which was recorded at Barrow Island, Australia on April 10, 1996, at 253 mph (407 km/h).
Even 100 mph winds can blow large chunks of ice off the mountain and the observatory buildings at the summit, posing a serious hazard to hikers and climbers in the winter. The observatory has bulletproof windows to reduce the risk of one of these shards hitting the building, according to its website.
Additionally, people who climb Mount Washington in the winter face the risk of avalanches, hypothermia, and frostbite. The average temperature on the mountain is 27.1 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 2.7 degrees Celsius), which can lead to extreme wind chill conditions, according to New Hampshire State Parks.
Several rescue teams monitor Mount Washington, and volunteers regularly assist hikers who become lost or stranded due to changing weather conditions.
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