Weather on Mt Whitney varies greatly during the year and can certainly be unpredictable at times. Temperatures at the lower elevations are generally warm. At higher elevations in the night, even in the summer months temperatures can fall below freezing. Typical winter temperatures above 9,500 feet range from -14 degrees F to 12 degrees at night and from 15 - 50 degrees F during the day.
Ninety five percent of total precipitation (which includes both rain and snow) falls between the months of October and May, with more than half falling in January, February, and March. The frequency of summer showers increase at higher elevations and correspondingly there are more cloudy days. But even though these thundershowers are of short duration they are still a danger to the hiker/climber on the summit or high ridges on Mt Whitney and other Sierra Peaks. That being said, if you detect a thunderstorm developing, vacate the summit and high ridges at once. The
first recorded fatality on Mt Whitney was due to lightning.
Snow is one of the most spectacular features in the Sierra Nevada (the second snowiest mountain range on the continent) but due to the fact that Mt Whitney resides in the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada, it does not get nearly the amount of snow pack that the Palisade or Mammoth Lakes region do.
Latest Trail Conditions as of October 10th
The trail is in good condition (with only a slight snow dusting here and there) and still lots of people are going to the Summit without any problems. Permits are in force, so make sure you have one so you don't get turned around.
MT WHITNEY AERIAL VIEW - If you get a chance, check out the following link that will take you to a mixed slide-show showing many key features of Mt Whitney and the surrounding areas from both the ground and the air. Mt Whitney Aerial Slide-show also check out our Mt Whitney Aerial Flight Video (a moving view that takes you full circle around Mt Whitney and its surrounding neighbors).
TRAIL GUIDE - for an in-depth write up on hiking from the Trailhead at Whitney Portal to the Summit, please check out our page on the Mt Whitney Trail.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE WHITNEY PORTAL AREA AT 8,300 FT
The Whitney Portal Hosts the Trail-head for Hikers, Backpackers and Climbers on Mt Whitney
| Tuesday 10/20 A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly between 11am and 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 6 to 16 mph becoming east southeast in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. |
| Tuesday Night 10/20 Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South southeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. |
| Wednesday 10/21 A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. High near 48. Southeast wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. |
| Wednesday Night 10/21 Snow showers, possibly mixed with rain. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 35. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. |
| Thursday 10/22 Rain and snow showers before noon, then rain showers between noon and 5pm, then rain, possibly mixed with snow showers after 5pm. Some thunder is also possible. High near 43. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. |
| Thursday Night 10/22 A chance of rain showers, mixing with snow after 7pm, then gradually ending. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. |
| Friday 10/23 Sunny, with a high near 48. |
| Friday Night 10/23 Mostly clear, with a low around 33. |
| Saturday 10/24 Sunny, with a high near 50. |
| Saturday Night 10/24 Mostly clear, with a low around 34. |
| Sunday 10/25 Sunny, with a high near 51. |
| Sunday Night 10/25 Mostly clear, with a low around 34. |
| Monday 10/26 Sunny, with a high near 50. |
The Photo Above Shows Trail Camp on Mt Whitney at an elevation of 12,000 ft.
Most backpackers/climbers on Mt Whitney use this as a base camp for Summit day.
Plenty of great sites already established so it makes for easy setup.2,496 feet of elevation left to gain before
THE FOLLOWING IS THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WHITNEY Trail Camp AT 12,000 FTAs mentioned above, most backpackers/climbers set up camp here before going for the summit.
| Tuesday 10/20 A 50 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 33. South southeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. |
| Tuesday Night 10/20 Snow showers likely, mainly before midnight. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 29. South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. |
| Wednesday 10/21 Snow showers, mainly after 1pm. Some thunder is also possible. High near 30. Southeast wind 11 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. |
| Wednesday Night 10/21 Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 22. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible. |
| Thursday 10/22 Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. High near 25. West wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. |
| Thursday Night 10/22 A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. |
| Friday 10/23 Sunny, with a high near 29. |
| Friday Night 10/23 Mostly clear, with a low around 19. |
| Saturday 10/24 Sunny, with a high near 32. |
| Saturday Night 10/24 Mostly clear, with a low around 22. |
| Sunday 10/25 Sunny, with a high near 32. |
| Sunday Night 10/25 Mostly clear, with a low around 21. |
| Monday 10/26 Sunny, with a high near 31. |
THE FOLLOWING IS THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WHITNEY'S SUMMIT AT 14,508 FT
| Tuesday 10/20 A 50 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 24. South southeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. |
| Tuesday Night 10/20 Snow showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. South southeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. |
| Wednesday 10/21 Snow showers, mainly after 3pm. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature rising to near 23 by noon, then falling to around 25 during the remainder of the day. Southeast wind 11 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. |
| Wednesday Night 10/21 Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 16. South wind 7 to 9 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. |
| Thursday 10/22 Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. High near 17. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. |
| Thursday Night 10/22 A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. |
| Friday 10/23 Sunny, with a high near 20. |
| Friday Night 10/23 Mostly clear, with a low around 13. |
| Saturday 10/24 Sunny, with a high near 23. |
| Saturday Night 10/24 Mostly clear, with a low around 15. |
| Sunday 10/25 Sunny, with a high near 24. |
| Sunday Night 10/25 Mostly clear, with a low around 14. |
| Monday 10/26 Sunny, with a high near 23. |
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Matt 7:24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
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