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Northeast's highest mountain records wind gust of 171 mph
In this March 10, 2015 file photo, a sign marks the snow-caked summit of the 6,288-foot Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Meteorologists said a wind gust on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, atop the mountain hit 171 mph, setting a record for the month which beat the previous February wind record of 166 mph set in 1972. It also was the strongest wind recorded there in any month since 1985. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
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In this March 10, 2015 file photo, a sign marks the snow-caked summit of the 6,288-foot Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Meteorologists said a wind gust on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, atop the mountain hit 171 mph, setting a record for the month which beat the previous February wind record of 166 mph set in 1972. It also was the strongest wind recorded there in any month since 1985. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Meteorologists say a wind gust atop the Northeast's highest mountain hit 171 mph (275 kph), setting a record for the month on a peak known for its extreme weather.
The gust Monday on New Hampshire's Mount Washington beat the previous February wind record of 166 mph (267 kph) set in 1972. It was also the strongest wind recorded there in any month since 1985.
Staff members at the Mount Washington Observatory say the building rumbled and windows flexed from pressure changes as they gathered around equipment charting the gusts.
A 231-mph (371-kph) gust on the 6,288-foot (1,916-meter) mountain in 1934 remains the highest wind speed ever observed by man.