Mountain weather tips every hiker needs
Tools and apps to track high-altitude weather in the White MountainsBefore the hike
Keeping with a common theme in hiking, your preparation is crucial. When it comes to weather, pulling out your phone to check the forecast won’t cut it. Your phone’s default weather app pulls from the nearest town, not the mountain you are about to hike. This is why it’s important to use hyper-local, elevation-adjusted weather services. Knowing what to expect at different elevations can be the difference between a safe day and a dangerous one.
Here are some weather services that we recommend:
NOAA (National Weather Service)
Use for: Viewing the radar to identify any incoming storm threats
Benefits
Reliable, government-issued data
Great for spotting regional weather patterns
Easy-to-read
Works offline
Use for: High-altitude hikes
Benefits
Forecasts broken down by elevation
Helpful for understanding how conditions will shift as you gain altitude
User-friendly interface designed for hikers
Use for: Deep backcountry hiking
Benefits
Pulls raw weather model data (the same info meteorologists use)
Ability to input exact coordinates or locations
Highly detailed and customizable
How to use: Drop a pin on your route and select the model. Look at the hourly chart for wind, temperature and precipitation to decide when it’s safest to hike above the treeline.
Use for: Hiking the White Mountains
Benefits
Created by meteorologists who specialize in White Mountain weather
Specifically tailored to higher elevations
Provides critical details and context that explains how the weather will feel and what hazards to expect
How to use:
Go to the MWOBS website and select “Current Summit Forecast.”
Go to “Higher Summits Forecast” and read the forecast summary. This is where meteorologists explain incoming weather systems and possible risks.
Pay special attention to wind: sustained winds above 40 mph make hiking above the treeline difficult — 50-70 mph can be dangerous and a sign to postpone your trek.
Compare summit conditions to valley forecasts to understand how conditions will change as you gain elevation.
Pro tip: If the forecast mentions “in the clouds,” expect very low visibility—whiteout conditions are common even in the summer.
Use for: Hiking the White Mountains
Benefits
Created by meteorologists who specialize in White Mountain weather
Specifically tailored to higher elevations
Provides critical details and context that explains how the weather will feel and what hazards to expect
How to use:
Go to the MWOBS website and select “Current Summit Forecast.”
Go to “Higher Summits Forecast” and read the forecast summary. This is where meteorologists explain incoming weather systems and possible risks.
Pay special attention to wind: sustained winds above 40 mph make hiking above the treeline difficult — 50-70 mph can be dangerous and a sign to postpone your trek.
Compare summit conditions to valley forecasts to understand how conditions will change as you gain elevation.
Pro tip: If the forecast mentions “in the clouds,” expect very low visibility—whiteout conditions are common even in the summer.