How the Autumn Climbing Period Became Deadly in the Himalayan Mountains
Clear skies, calm winds and a panoramic vista of majestic peaks draped in white powder - this describes the autumn setting that hikers on the world's highest peak have grown to adore.
However this seems to be shifting.
Changing Climate Conditions
Climate scientists report the rainy season now extends into autumn, which is traditionally the mountain tourism period.
Throughout this prolonged tail end of the rainy season, they have observed at least one occurrence of heavy rainfall almost every year for the past decade, with mountain weather becoming increasingly hazardous.
Recent Emergency on Everest
Last weekend, a shock snowstorm stranded hundreds of travelers near the eastern face of Everest for days in freezing temperatures at an elevation of more than 16,000ft.
Nearly 600 hikers were led to safety by the conclusion of Tuesday, according to reports.
A single individual had died from extreme cold and mountain sickness, but the remaining individuals were reportedly in stable condition.
Similar Incidents Across the Region
The emergency was on the northern side but a comparable situation had occurred on the southern slope, where a Korean climber died on another Himalayan summit.
The world found out much later because communications were hit by heavy downpours and significant snow accumulation.
Officials estimate that landslides and sudden floods in the country have killed approximately sixty people over the previous seven days.
"It is highly atypical for October when we expect the weather to remain calm," said an experienced mountain guide.
Business Impact
Considering autumn represents the favored period, frequent storms like these have "disrupted our mountaineering and climbing industry," he added.
The rainy period in the Indian subcontinent and Nepal usually lasts from June to early autumn, but not anymore.
"Research shows that most of the years in the past decade have had monsoons lasting until the second week of autumn, which is certainly a shift," said a senior meteorology expert.
Growing Weather Extremes
Even more worrying is the heavy precipitation and snowfall the concluding phase of the period produces, like it did this time on 4 and 5 October.
High in the mountain range, such extreme weather translates to blizzards and winter storms, which represents a huge danger for hiking, climbing and the travel industry.
Firsthand Accounts
Exactly what occurred recently when the weather shifted quite abruptly - the air currents began howling, temperatures dropped sharply and sightlines decreased significantly.
The path that had comfortably brought the hikers to what was expected to be a breathtaking pitstop was now covered in white accumulation and extremely difficult to traverse.
Nevertheless, one hiker, who had hiked these mountains more than a twelve occasions, reported he had "never experienced weather like these" before.
Expert Explanations
One major driver is the higher amount of moisture in the atmosphere because of how the world has been warming, scientists say.
That has contributed to heavy precipitation over a brief period of time, frequently after a extended period without rain – in contrast to in the past when monsoon showers were distributed uniformly over the entire season.
A Intensified Monsoon
Weather specialists say the monsoons in South Asia at occasions seem to have become more intense because they are increasingly interacting with an additional weather system, the westerly disturbance.
The phenomenon is a atmospheric depression that originates in the Mediterranean region and moves eastward - it carries cold air that causes rains and occasionally snow to northern India, neighboring countries and the Himalayan region.
Climate Warming Impacts
Researchers have also discovered that in a warming planet, the increasing interaction between western weather systems and monsoons is causing an additional unusual result.
The warmer air is pushing the clouds to greater altitudes, which indicates these weather systems are now capable to cross the mountain barrier and reach Tibet and other regions that previously experienced less so much rain before.
"What's changed is the reliability of weather patterns; we can't assume that conditions will occur the identical from year to year," said an experienced expedition guide.
"That means adaptable scheduling, immediate choices, and knowledgeable guidance [in the Himalayas] have become even more essential."
