Worst weather in the world
However, it turns out that there is a place on Earth that combines all these unpleasant things.
What makes the weather on Mount Washington so extreme?
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Mount Washington experiences hurricane-force winds on about one day out of three each year. Temperatures are comparable to those seen in the Arctic and rainfall is extremely high.
In April 1934, winds of 372 km/h were measured at the top of the mountain, which held the record for wind speed on Earth for over 60 years. Even in summer, when the winds are the calmest, their average speed is about 40 km per hour.
Rainfall on Mount Washington averages over 2,286 mm per year, and snow, ice and hail totals exceed 7,163 mm. It is foggy for two-thirds of the year, and the mountain is also exposed to direct lightning strikes.
What are the consequences of such extreme weather?
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With such extreme weather conditions, any exposed skin is exposed to frost, which is similar to a bee sting or sunburn.
In February - thanks to strong winds - the coldest temperature ever felt in the US was measured at the top of the mountain, at -78 degrees Celsius, with an actual temperature of -43 degrees Celsius.
Why is the weather so bad on Mount Washington?
The unique conditions on the mountain result from a combination of equally unique factors: Mount Washington's height, its location in the country, its latitude on the globe, and the fact that the mountain is in the path of the polar stream.
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Is it worth going to Mount Washington?
Despite extreme conditions, Mount Washington attracts approximately 350,000 people annually tourists. For people who are properly prepared, this is a good place to hike. However, those unprepared can face danger - at least 160 people have died or are missing on the mountain.
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