Summit forecast for 5,367 ft · Presidential · Updated 3x daily
5,367 ft | Presidential | 2 routes
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM ET
Mount Madison (5,367 ft) is currently 37°F (feels like 28°F) with clear sky and NNW winds at 12 mph, gusting to 24 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,281–11,450 ft. Expect the summit to run about 6°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Dangerous.
Bring microspikes (28°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 1.6°F per 1,000 ft on Mount Madison.
| Elevation | Temp Range | Max Wind | Wind Chill (Low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit 5,367 ft | 29° – 45°F | 36 mph | 12°F |
| Treeline 4,000 ft | 31° – 45°F | 35 mph | 15°F |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 38° – 51°F | 18 mph | 28°F |
Freezing level today: 3,281–11,450 ft
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| Elevation | Today Oct 22 | Tomorrow Oct 23 | Saturday Oct 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| lo/hi °F · wind mph & dir · chill °F | |||
| Summit 5,367 ft | 42/44° 26 | 28/28° 33 | 36/39° 17 |
| 5,000 ft | 42/44° 26 | 28/28° 33 | 37/39° 16 |
| 4,100 ft | 43/44° 27 | 27/28° 30 | 37/40° 13 |
| 3,300 ft | 42/43° 23 | 27/29° 25 | 37/41° 11 |
| 2,500 ft | 42/44° 14 | 28/31° 17 | 38/43° 8 |
| Trailhead 2,000 ft | 43/46° 9 | 30/33° 13 | 37/45° 6 |
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 Madison (5,367 ft) is currently 37°F (feels like 28°F) with clear sky and NNW winds at 12 mph, gusting to 24 mph. Today's freezing level is 3,281–11,450 ft. Expect the summit to run about 6°F colder than the trailhead. Trail conditions are rated Dangerous.
Temperatures drop roughly 1.6°F per 1,000 ft of elevation on Mount Madison. Today the trailhead (2,000 ft) tops out around 51°F while the summit (5,367 ft) reaches about 45°F, with a wind chill as low as 12°F.
Winds at the summit of Mount Madison are forecast to reach 36 mph today, with 35 mph at treeline. Above treeline there is no shelter from wind — plan layers around wind chill, not air temperature.
The freezing level on Mount Madison today is 3,281–11,450 ft. The summit is 5,367 ft, so expect freezing temperatures on the upper mountain — check trail reports for ice and bring traction if in doubt.
Mount Madison Trail Conditions
AI conditions, hazards, gear & trail reports
Routes up Mount Madison
Distance, elevation gain & book time
White Mountains trail reports
Ice, mud and the traction hikers carried this week
Trailhead parking
When the lots fill, from hikers' reports
Paid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
Dangerous
Rating
Plan a below-treeline hike
Conditions above treeline are rated Dangerous. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
28°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 28°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.