The summit is staffed year-round by a team of intrepid weather observers and interns.
One of the major challenges to making weather observations at the top of the highest peak on the East Coast are the constant high winds that buffet the observatory. In addition, wintry conditions can envelop the mountain in any month of the year, including May.*
The winds are partly the result of the mountain's position at the intersection of several major storm tracks, combined with the local topography, which accelerates the airflow over the treeless peak as if it were a miniature wind tunnel. Read more...