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 6th
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.

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