Deicing During a 158 mph Gust 10-30-06

Observer Ryan Knapp from the Mount Washington Observatory removes ice from the instrument tower just after a peak gust of 158 mph. This was the highest wind gust in 10 years on Mount Washington, the 'Home of the World's Worst Weather.'

Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit, membership-supported research and educational institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth's weather and climate. Since 1932, the Observatory has been observing Mount Washington's incredible extremes, conducting scientific research, educating the public about the science of weather and climate and amassing one of North America's longest and most unique climate records. For weather reports, webcams, photos and more, visit MountWashington.org.

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[Ricktard1010]

Would this Ryan Knapp perhaps be related to a Knapp that teaches in New Hampshire?

[MWOObserver]

@Ricktard1010 Not likely. Ryan grew grew up in the Lake Tahoe region, and his family is from that area as well.

[greenwich1754]

Sure, everyone can stand without support in a "158 mph gust"! Even if the winds were 100 mph, you'd still need support, and Mr. de-icer seemed to have no problem standing on his own.

[MWOObserver]

@greenwich1754

Where the observer shown in this video is standing, the wind is being blocked by the concrete structure that the wind instruments are mounted on. The way our tower is built, no matter what direction the wind is coming from, an observer would be able to find relief from the wind by standing on the leeward side of that concrete structure.

I assure you, the winds in this video are indeed gusting as high as 158 mph, just not in the exact spot where the observer is standing.

[kasteman1]

"of the chart..."

Well, I guess I should've put on that extra t-shirt. lol

[drewnickel]

@greenwich1754 along with what MWOObserver said, those winter suits are heavy, probably adding 20lbs to him, and that hammer adds another 5. making him probably nearly 200lbs. even in 158 mph winds it'd be like a normal person in 90 to 100mph winds, he's behind structure so it's like nothing.

[MWOObserver]

@TooManySnakes

Although Mount Washington is at 6,288 feet, it is still the surface of the earth. Therefore, the record we held for so long was indeed for a surface wind speed, which TC Olivia has now taken over.

You references the 302 mph wind measured in a tornado. That wind speed was estimated (not measured) in Oklahoma using doppler radar, at a height of 30 meters above the surface. Therefore, it did not compete with our record at the time because it was not taken "at the surface".

[TooManySnakes]

@ar4216 Olivia does, however hold the worlds record for fastest measured surface wind. Mt Washington was recorded at more than 6200 ft in the air.

[TooManySnakes]

@ar4216 Mt Washington Summit Observatory, NH record still holds as highest *recorded* wind speed in the world at 231mph.Unless this cyclone was measured with equipment physically in contact with the wind,(not by radar wind algorithms like they have been measuring tornado and cyclone winds with for years)the highest peak wind speed to date(that I'm aware of) was measured in a tornado at 302mph.It was suspected Grandfather Mt exceeded the Mt Washington record in 2006 but that reading proved false.

[DowntownTB13]

@ar4216 the ice is fluffy though, so it has good traction, kinda like snow, but mt washington still does have the highest wind speed recorded by man!!! sorry for replying to a 7 month old comment, lol