When Does It Snow on Mount Everest? Monsoon & Beyond

Snow falls on Everest year-round, but the dominant snowfall window is May–July during the South Asian monsoon.

Monsoon Snow (May–September)

• Mechanism: Moist Bay of Bengal air hits Himalaya barrier → orographic lift → heavy snow above 5,000 m.
• Peak: June–July. Summit can receive meters of new snow. Avalanche risk highest.
• Paradox: Monsoon = "summer" but brings the most snow to high elevations.

Winter Snow (October–April)

• Westerlies: Mid-latitude storms bring lighter, drier snow (powder).
• Frequency: Less frequent, but accumulates on windward ridges.
• Jet Stream: Often sits atop Everest (100+ mph winds), stripping snow off summit pyramid.

Pre/Post-Monsoon (Apr–May, Sep–Oct)

• Transition periods. Unstable weather, occasional heavy dumps.
• Spring (Apr–May) = main climbing window—between winter winds and monsoon snow.

Climbing Implications

• Spring (Apr–May): Best stability, consolidated snowpack, lower avalanche risk.
• Autumn (Sep–Oct): Post-monsoon, deep soft snow, higher avalanche danger, shorter days.
• Winter: Extreme cold (−40 to −60 °C), hurricane winds, minimal daylight. Rare attempts.
• Monsoon: Nearly impossible—whiteout, wet snow, leeches at base camp.

Climate Change Signal

Glacier mass loss accelerating. Khumbu Icefall shifting. Snowline rising. Future snow regimes uncertain—critical for 1.5B downstream water users.