Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, is famed for its notoriously severe weather. Given its reputation for blizzard conditions, sub-zero temperatures, and record-setting winds, many people assume the mountain is covered in snow throughout the entire year. The direct answer to this common question is no, the summit does not maintain continuous, year-round snow cover. While the mountain receives immense snowfall, the peak experiences a relatively short, snow-free period during the height of summer.
Seasonal Reality of Snow Cover
The summit of Mount Washington typically sees its snow-free period from late July through early September. The mountain receives an average annual snowfall of approximately 281.2 inches, or over 23 feet.
This high quantity of snow ensures that at least one inch of snow cover is usually present on the ground from November through April. During the peak winter months, the snowpack regularly reaches substantial depths, frequently reaching ten or more inches deep on over 60 days per year.
Factors Driving Mount Washington’s Extreme Climate
The mountain’s immense snowfall and bitter temperatures result from a unique combination of elevation and geographical positioning. At 6,288 feet, the summit extends into the free atmosphere, where temperatures naturally drop by about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet of ascent. This altitude means the summit is significantly colder than the valleys below, allowing precipitation to fall as snow for a greater portion of the year.
Mount Washington is situated at the convergence point for three major North American storm tracks: the Atlantic, the Gulf region, and the Pacific Northwest. This convergence increases the frequency and intensity of storms passing over the area. The Presidential Range, oriented north-to-south, acts as a substantial barrier to prevailing westerly winds.
This orientation forces large air masses to rapidly rise, a process called orographic lift. This lift cools the air, causing massive amounts of moisture to condense and fall as precipitation. Furthermore, the mountain’s isolated height and the funneling effect of the surrounding terrain concentrate wind speeds directly onto the peak. This contributes to an average of 110 days per year with hurricane-force wind gusts, which intensify the cold by lowering the wind chill.
Why Snow Lingers Into Summer
The perception of year-round snow comes from the persistence of deep snow deposits in sheltered areas, even when the official summit observation area is clear. Snow patches often linger well into late summer, particularly within massive, bowl-shaped glacial cirques like Tuckerman Ravine and the Great Gulf. These formations are situated on the mountain’s east side, where they are shielded from the direct afternoon sun and protected from the scouring effect of prevailing westerly winds.
The record-setting winds on the summit scour loose snow from the open highlands and deposit it into these ravines. This accumulates a massive snowpack that can reach depths of up to 55 feet in a typical winter, allowing the snow to survive the warmer months. Over time, the snow compacts under its own weight and through melt-freeze cycles, transforming into a dense, granular form known as firn or neve.
This compacted snow is much denser and more resistant to melting than fresh powder, helping it withstand summer temperatures. The combination of topographical shading, wind deposition, and snow density ensures that these snowfields can often be found in the ravines as late as July.