Interesting Q&A with Michael Fagin discussing his meteorological Mount Everest knowledge from Scientific American:
…Michael Fagin, a Seattle-based meteorologist, is the go-to man for prudent climbers. Every spring major expeditions, as well as intrepid individuals, hire him to provide daily forecasts for Everest and other Himalayan peaks. Edited excerpts follow.
What weather peculiarities affect Mount Everest?
It’s common to have winds at 100 mph, but in May—the most popular time to climb, just before the monsoon starts—there are usually several days with winds at reasonable levels (under 20 mph). Another abnormal atmospheric condition that you have to be tuned into is cyclones that form in the Bay of Bengal. Although Everest is about 1,500 miles to the north and not at sea level, these storms can greatly impact the mountain, bringing heavy precipitation.
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