The White Mountains Almanac is a first-of-its-kind annual publication recently released by the Appalachian Mountain Club, Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, and Mount Washington Observatory. The highly informative and well-written report offers a month-by-month, data-driven snapshot of the region’s shifting climate and ecosystems, confirming what most scientists already acknowledge: the climate is changing dramatically, resulting in, among other things, warmer winters, reduced snowpack, and more severe storms. The almanac also offers long-term ecological insights, along with contributions from local scientists and community members to capture the changing character of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Far from a dull, scientific report, the almanac is presented in a clear and often entertaining fashion, with a focus on helping the reader understand how recent climate change is affecting our daily lives. For example, it finds that the number of ideal winter outdoor recreation days has been decreasing in recent decades. Another finding is that the number of thunderstorms on Mount Washington has been increasing over time for the month of July—something that hikers need to know.

The White Mountains Almanac is available online for free, and can also be ordered in a print version by filling out this form.