Why the Autumn Trekking Period Became Fatal in the Himalayan Mountains
Bright skies, gentle breezes and a panoramic view of majestic peaks covered in snow - that is the autumn setting that hikers on Mount Everest have grown to adore.
However that appears to be changing.
Shifting Weather Patterns
Weather experts indicate the rainy season now stretches into fall, which is traditionally the mountain travel season.
Throughout this delayed conclusion of monsoon, they have recorded at least one instance of extreme precipitation almost every year for the past decade, with mountain weather becoming increasingly dangerous.
Recent Crisis on Everest
Recently, a unexpected snowstorm stranded several hundred of tourists near the east-facing side of Mount Everest for days in freezing conditions at an elevation of more than 4,900m.
Nearly six hundred hikers were guided to security by the end of Tuesday, according to reports.
A single individual had succumbed from hypothermia and mountain sickness, but the remaining individuals were said to be in stable health.
Comparable Events Across the Region
This was on the Tibetan slope but a comparable situation had developed on the Nepal side, where a South Korean climber lost his life on Mera Peak.
The world learned after some delay because communication lines were hit by torrential rains and significant snow accumulation.
Officials estimate that landslides and flash floods in the country have killed approximately 60 individuals over the past week.
"This is highly unusual for October during which we anticipate the weather to remain clear," stated Riten Jangbu Sherpa.
Business Consequences
Considering this is the preferred season, frequent extreme weather events like these have "hampered our mountaineering and mountaineering business," he continued.
The monsoon season in northern India and the Himalayan nation typically continues from early summer to mid-September, but no longer.
"Research demonstrates that most of the annual cycles in the past ten years have had monsoons continuing until the middle of autumn, which is definitely a shift," said a senior weather expert.
Growing Climate Severity
More worrying is the heavy rain and snowfall the concluding phase of the season produces, like it did recently on early October.
High in the Himalayas, such severe conditions means blizzards and snowstorms, which constitutes a significant danger for trekking, climbing and the travel industry.
Firsthand Accounts
Exactly what occurred last weekend when the conditions shifted very suddenly - the air currents began howling, mercury readings dropped sharply and visibility decreased significantly.
The trail that had comfortably led the trekkers to what should have been a stunning pitstop was now covered in snow and extremely difficult to navigate.
Still, one hiker, who had hiked the Himalayas more than a dozen occasions, said he had "never encountered conditions like this" before.
Scientific Explanations
A primary big factor is the increased amount of humidity in the atmosphere because of how the planet has been warming, scientists say.
This has contributed to heavy precipitation over a short span of time, often after a extended period without rain – in contrast to in the previous era when monsoon showers were spread uniformly over four months.
A Turbocharged Monsoon
Climate specialists say the monsoons in South Asia at times appear to have become stronger because they are increasingly interacting with an additional atmospheric phenomenon, the western weather pattern.
This is a low pressure system that originates in the Mediterranean area and travels east - it carries chillier temperatures that brings precipitation and occasionally snowfall to northern India, neighboring countries and the Himalayan region.
Global Warming Effects
Researchers have additionally found that in a warming planet, the increasing interaction between western weather systems and seasonal rains is causing an additional unusual result.
The hotter air is forcing the weather systems higher, which means these weather systems are now able to cross the Himalayas and affect Tibet and additional areas that did not see as much precipitation in the past.
"What's changed is the predictability of weather patterns; we can't assume that conditions will behave the same from season to season," said an seasoned mountain guide.
"This implies adaptable scheduling, real-time decision-making, and knowledgeable leadership [in the Himalayas] have become increasingly important."
