How Warm Does Mount Everest Get? Temperature Ranges by Season and Altitude

Extreme Cold, With Seasonal Variation

Mount Everest is never "warm" by normal standards. Temperatures depend on altitude and season:

Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft)

• Summer (Jun–Aug): Avg ~0°C (32°F); daytime highs to 5–10°C (41–50°F) in sun
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Avg ~-12°C (10°F); nights -20°C to -30°C (-4°F to -22°F)

Summit (8,848 m / 29,029 ft)

• Summer: Avg ~-19°C (-2°F); max ~-10°C (14°F)
• Winter: Avg ~-36°C (-33°F); record low -62.2°C (-79.9°F) (Dec 1998, South Col)

Key Factors

• Solar radiation intense (thin air, high albedo) — feels warmer in direct sun
• Wind chill extreme (jet stream on summit: 100+ mph)
• Diurnal swing large (day/night)
• Monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings moisture, slightly higher temps, but storms

Climbing Window

May and October: brief periods of relatively stable weather, marginally warmer.

Bottom line: Everest is a deep-freeze environment year-round.