Summit forecast for 5,260 ft · Franconia · Updated 3x daily
5,260 ft | Franconia | 3 routes
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET
Mount Lafayette (5,260 ft) is currently 35°F (feels like 24°F) with clear sky and NNW winds at 16 mph, gusting to 33 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,609–11,319 ft. Expect the summit to run about 3°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Dangerous.
Bring microspikes (30°F summit low) 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 1.2°F per 1,000 ft on Mount Lafayette.
| Elevation | Temp Range | Max Wind | Wind Chill (Low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit 5,260 ft | 30° – 47°F | 37 mph | 14°F |
| Treeline 4,000 ft | 32° – 46°F | 38 mph | 16°F |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 39° – 50°F | 20 mph | 29°F |
Freezing level today: 3,609–11,319 ft
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| Elevation | Today Oct 22 | Tomorrow Oct 23 | Saturday Oct 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 5,260 ft | 43/46° 28 | 30/31° 33 | 37/38° 17 |
| 5,000 ft | 43/46° 28 | 30/31° 33 | 37/38° 17 |
| 4,100 ft | 43/45° 30 | 29/30° 30 | 37/39° 14 |
| 3,300 ft | 42/43° 27 | 28/30° 23 | 37/40° 11 |
| 2,500 ft | 42/43° 16 | 29/32° 15 | 37/39° 7 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 42/45° 11 | 31/34° 12 | 37/40° 5 |
4 more days of forecast: plan around the weather window, not just tomorrow.
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Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth.
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET: Mount Lafayette (5,260 ft) is currently 35°F (feels like 24°F) with clear sky and NNW winds at 16 mph, gusting to 33 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,609–11,319 ft. Expect the summit to run about 3°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Dangerous.
Temperatures drop roughly 1.2°F per 1,000 ft of elevation on Mount Lafayette. Today the trailhead (2,000 ft) tops out around 50°F while the summit (5,260 ft) reaches about 47°F, with a wind chill as low as 14°F.
Winds at the summit of Mount Lafayette are forecast to reach 37 mph today, with 38 mph at treeline. Above treeline there is no shelter from wind — plan layers around wind chill, not air temperature.
The freezing level on Mount Lafayette today is 3,609–11,319 ft. The summit is 5,260 ft, so expect freezing temperatures on the upper mountain — check trail reports for ice and bring traction if in doubt.
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Dangerous
Rating
Plan a below-treeline hike
Conditions above treeline are rated Dangerous. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
30°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 30°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
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
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.