Records are falling left and right on the highest mountain in the Northeast. Just 8 days after a 25.5 inch October 17 snowstorm broke the 36-year-old October single day snowfall record, the record fell again on October 25 with a 27.5 inch tally. A class 5 avalanche advisory was issued as well yesterday. Wow.

The all-time single month (any month) precipitation record has also gone by the wayside. There has been 27.85 inches of combined rain/snow precipitation so far this month.

http://mountwashington.org

I've been a bit under the weather for the past month or so but am now getting caught up. Here's some additional storm info and the big snows that occurred when Wilma going up the coast from Florida slammed into the season's first big cold front.

-- Brasstown Bald had snow
-- Newfound Gap was closed by Clingmans
-- Mount Mitchell and the Blue Ridge Parkway were closed
-- 40 inches of snow fell on Sugarloaf (Maine's second highest)

And of course Mount Washington:
While much of New Hampshire has been concerned with record rainfall, snow has made this a record-breaking month atop Mount Washington.

So far this month, records have been set for the most snow and ice on the ground in October -- 43.1 inches -- and the most snowfall in a 24-hour period in October-- 25.7 inches. That record was set Wednesday, breaking another 24-hour October snowfall record set last week.

This was also the wettest October on record with a fraction under 28 inches of liquid equivalent, meaning rain and melted snow
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2005/10/27/records_falling_atop_mount_washington/

As Mount Washington had record snows at the end of October it should be noted the month began with four consecutive days of record highs.

AlpineZone reports October 2nd topped out at 58° beating the 1950 record of 57°. On the 3rd, the Rockpile set a high of 59°, the old record set in 1953 was 56°. October 4th also reached a high of 59° shattering a previous record of 56 set in both 1951 and 1953.

A high of 62° was recorded on October 5th, beating the old record of 58° set in 1951, and is the warmest October temperature ever recorded on the summit. The previous warmest reading was 59° set on October 12th and 13th, 1938.
http://americasroof.com/wp/archives/2005/11/01/mount-washington-began-october-with-4-days-of-record-highs/

Boston.Com reports The Forest Service is warning hikers in the White Mountains to pay careful attention to avalanche dangers. Officials say the especially wet weather last month has created conditions not normally seen until mid- to late-winter.

“I’ve been going up there for 15 years,” said Ranger Chris Joosen. “This by far is the earliest start and most substantial start.”

Advisories on avalanches are available at tuckerman.org. At this writing the danger was listed low to moderate but cautioned that any precipitation could change things.
http://americasroof.com/wp/archives/2005/11/01/earliest-mount-washington-avalanche-warning-in-recent-memory/

I biked/hiked up from Hanover NH yesterday to Smarts Mountain, which for those unfamiliar with the area is a good deal SW of Mt. Washington and the major Whites, near the Connecticut River. From the fire tower on top (keep in mind this is November in NH!) I could see Washington far off in the distance, as well as Moosilauke and Lafayette nearer by, and Killington in the opposite direction. Washington looked like it was absolutely COVERED in snow, even though, at least in our part of NH, the valleys are for the time being snow-less.