How Cold does it Get on Everest?
In a word, very! In January, the coldest time of the year, temperatures can drop to -76°F. It’s windy too, with wind speed (due to the jet stream) sometimes as high as 175mph. During the climbing season, temperatures near the summit may range between -25°F and 5°F (approximately -30°C to -20°C), but with wind conditions factored in, the environment is still a harsh one. On a good day where winds are 20mph and the temperature is a fairly routine -20°F, the wind chill factor makes it feel like it is a frigid -48°F. In these conditions, frostbite can set in within minutes. That said, at base camp in May when the sun is shining, it can get downright balmy… picture of climbers wearing t-shirts is not uncommon! (Note: the yellow box in table below indicates the most likely conditions we’ll face near the top of the mountain.)
