Who’s on top mountaineers’ speed-dial?

The answer for Everest mountaineering guides is Michael Fagin. He is the force behind www.everestweather.com , online home of a high-altitude weather forecast service (one of only three in the world) that supplies crucial weather information to mountain climbers seeking to summit Everest.

I recently caught up with Michael and we talked about the weather.

“I’m a fair weather hiker” explained Michael, owner of weather forecasting agency West Coast Weather, LLC and owner of website EverestWeather.com. “I just got tired of getting caught in bad weather, so I started learning how to forecast it myself,” he continued.

And learn to forecast he did… Michael is now responsible for providing the life-or-death critical forecasts Mount Everest climbers rely upon as the strive for the summit each year. Here’s what he had to say about the weather on Everest:

Special thanks to Mr. Snyder's Fourth grade class at Maplewood Heights Elementary in Renton, Washington for maintaining the weather forecast data below. Thanks Panthers!

Weather Tracker

Minimize
 DateSorted By Date In Descending OrderTemperatureWindConditionsStudent Name
5/20/2008-24 C / - 11.2 F30 knots from the southwestJust a few high cloudsMr. Snyder "Go Charlie" Wishing and praying for you all!
5/19/2008-23c / -9.4f40 knots from the weststronger gusts at times clear now but clouds will move in laterErik Johannessen. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/18/2008-23c / -9.4f30 knots from the westwith some high cloudsErik Johannessen. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/17/2008-28c / -13f30 knots from the westmostly clear with just a few high cloudsErik Johannessen. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/16/2008-24c / 11.2f30 knots from westmostly clear with just a few high cloudsErik Johannessen. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/15/2008-23c / 9.4fwinds 26 knots from the westclouds moving in and out of the regionEric J.
5/14/2008-28c /18.4fwinds 30 knots from the westclouds moving in and out of the regionErik Johannessen. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/13/2008-28c /18.4fwinds 34 knots from the southwestsome cloudsErik johannessen.from Mr.Snyder's class
5/12/2008-29 c / 20.2 f 40 knots from southwest some cloudsErik Johannessen. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/11/2008-28 c/-18.4 f32 knots from southwestsome cloudsErik J. from Mr.Snyder's class
5/9/2008- 28 c/- 18.4f winds at 34 knots from SWcloudy to partly cloudyErik J from Mr. Snyders class
5/8/2008-28 c / -18.4 f 38 knots from southwestclouds moving in and out of the region 
5/7/2008-27 c / 16.6- f44 knotscloudy to partly cloudyErik J from Mr.Snyder
5/6/2008-28 c/ -18.4 F30 knots from southwestcloudy to Partly cloudyErik J from Mr. Snyder's Class
5/5/2008-28C / -18.4 F28 knots from the westsome high clouds 
5/2/2008-28C / -18Fwinds 30 knots from the westmostly clear for now 
5/1/2008-28C / -18Fwinds 64 knots from the westsome clouds 
4/30/2008-29C / -20Fwinds 56 knots from the westsome clouds 
4/29/2008-29C / -20Fwinds 56 knots from the westcloudy to partly cloudy. Also a tropical depression is located in the Bay of Bengal which is south of Mt. Everest. However this should not have a direct impact on Everest outside of bringing a chance of precipitation for later in the week. 
4/28/2008-30C / -22Fwinds 62 knots from the northwestsome high clouds moving in and out of region. Also a tropical depression is located in the Bay of Bengal. However this should not have a direct impact on Everest outside of bringing a chance of precipitation for later in the week. 
4/27/2008-30C / -22Fwinds 62 knots from the westsome high clouds moving in and out of region 
4/26/2008-28C / -18Fwinds 72 knots from the westsome high clouds moving in and out of region 
4/25/2008-28C / -18Fwinds 48 knots from the westmostly clear 
4/24/2008-29C / -20Fwinds 50 knots from the westpartly cloudy 
4/23/2008-29C / -20Fwinds 54 knots from the northwestpartly cloudy 
4/22/2008-28C / -18Fwinds 52 knots from the westclear 
4/21/2008-27 Cwinds 63 knots from the westsome clouds 
4/20/2008-27 Cwinds 61 knots from the westmostly clear skies 
4/19/2008-32 Cwinds 74 knots from the westmostly clear skies 
4/18/2008-29 Cwinds 62 knots from the westsome high clouds moving in and out of the region 
4/17/2008-32 Cwinds 60 knots from the northwestsome high clouds moving in and out of the region 
4/16/2008-32 Cwinds 65 knots from the northwestcloudy 
4/15/2008-32 Cwinds 52 knots from the northwestsome clouds 
4/14/2008-32 C68 knots from the northwestsome clouds