Mount Washington Records Over a Foot of Snow So Far in November

After a relatively mild October, the winds of change are blowing across Mount Washington, bringing with them cold temperatures and snowfall.

As of Nov. 11, November has already brought more than a foot of snow to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington, with multiple days of winds exceeding 100 mph and ongoing winter-like conditions.

Mount Washington Observatory staff shared a photo on X showing 3- to 4-foot snow drifts that highlight the severity of winter conditions on the summit.

Despite these recent wintry conditions, the snowfall season is actually late this year for Mount Washington. Only 1.6 inches fell on Oct. 20, according to a Boston Globe report. 

As The Globe notes, the 30-year average snowfall on the summit stands at 281.8 inches, of which November averages about 3 feet of snow. Last month, the summit saw less than its usual amount of snowfall — about a foot, compared to the average of 19 inches.

Forecasts from the Mount Washington Observatory and regional outlooks predict slightly above-average snowfall for interior New England this winter, signaling a shift toward a more traditional pattern after two relatively weak seasons.

Mike Carmon, weather operations manager at Mount Washington Observatory, noted that “over the last 10 years, we've had five seasons of above-average snow at the summit and five below.”

The Globe noted, however, that Mount Washington remains an exception to the rule when it comes to the type of weather observed in Boston and across 95% of New England.