As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET
Mount Hancock (South Peak) (4,319 ft) is currently 42°F (feels like 30°F) with clear sky and NNW winds at 17 mph, gusting to 30 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,773–11,614 ft. Expect the summit to run about 3°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Moderate.
Bring microspikes (29°F summit low), a waterproof shell (56 mph summit gusts) and a headlamp (only 10h 37m of daylight). Why these · Paid links, Backcountry.com pays me if you buy.
One email when the first widespread ice reports come in from the Whites, with what to bring. Then the Thursday conditions outlook each week.
Valley forecasts don't apply up high — temperatures drop about 1.4°F per 1,000 ft on Mount Hancock (South Peak).
| Elevation | Temp Range | Max Wind | Wind Chill (Low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit |
| 32° – 48°F |
| 40 mph |
| 16°F |
| Treeline 4,000 ft | 32° – 48°F | 40 mph | 16°F |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 39° – 51°F | 18 mph | 30°F |
Freezing level today: 3,773–11,614 ft
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| Elevation | Today Oct 22 | Tomorrow Oct 23 | Saturday Oct 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 4,319 ft | 46/47° 28 | 29/30° 30 | 38/41° 15 |
| 4,100 ft | 46/47° 29 | 29/30° 30 | 38/41° 14 |
| 3,300 ft | 46/46° 28 | 30/31° 25 | 38/41° 12 |
| 2,500 ft | 44/47° 17 | 31/34° 15 | 38/42° 8 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 45/49° 12 | 32/36° 11 | 38/44° 7 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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29°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 29°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
56 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 56 mph above treeline, and a shell is what blocks it.
10h 37m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 5:48 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth, Mt. Washington Avalanche Center, USGS Stream Levels, OpenWeather Air Quality.
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET: Mount Hancock (South Peak) (4,319 ft) is currently 42°F (feels like 30°F) with clear sky and NNW winds at 17 mph, gusting to 30 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,773–11,614 ft. Expect the summit to run about 3°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Moderate.
Temperatures drop roughly 1.4°F per 1,000 ft of elevation on Mount Hancock (South Peak). Today the trailhead (2,000 ft) tops out around 51°F while the summit (4,319 ft) reaches about 48°F, with a wind chill as low as 16°F.
Winds at the summit of Mount Hancock (South Peak) are forecast to reach 40 mph today, with 40 mph at treeline. Above treeline there is no shelter from wind — plan layers around wind chill, not air temperature.
The freezing level on Mount Hancock (South Peak) today is 3,773–11,614 ft. The summit is 4,319 ft, so expect freezing temperatures on the upper mountain — check trail reports for ice and bring traction if in doubt.
Summit forecast for 4,319 ft · Hancock · Updated 3x daily
4,319 ft | Hancock | 2 routes