Why the Autumn Trekking Season Became Fatal in the Himalayas
Bright heavens, gentle breezes and a breathtaking view of Himalayan peaks draped in snow - this describes the fall setting that trekkers on the world's highest peak have come to love.
However this appears to be shifting.
Shifting Weather Patterns
Meteorologists report the monsoon now extends into autumn, which is traditionally the mountain travel season.
During this delayed conclusion of monsoon, they have observed at least one episode of extreme rainfall almost every year for the past ten years, with mountain conditions becoming more hazardous.
Recent Crisis on Everest
Recently, a shock snowstorm trapped hundreds of visitors near the east-facing side of Mount Everest for multiple days in freezing conditions at an altitude of more than 4,900m.
Nearly 600 trekkers were escorted to security by the conclusion of that week, according to sources.
A single person had succumbed from hypothermia and mountain sickness, but the remaining individuals were said to be in good condition.
Similar Events Across the Region
The emergency was on the Tibetan slope but something similar had unfolded on the southern side, where a South Korean climber died on another Himalayan summit.
The world learned after some delay because communication lines were hit by torrential rains and significant snow accumulation.
Authorities calculate that mudslides and flash floods in the region have claimed the lives of around sixty individuals over the previous seven days.
"This is highly unusual for autumn during which we anticipate the weather to stay clear," commented an experienced mountain guide.
Business Impact
Given this is the preferred period, frequent extreme weather events like this have "hampered our mountaineering and climbing industry," he added.
The rainy period in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayan nation usually lasts from early summer to mid-September, but no longer.
"Our data shows that most of the annual cycles in the past decade have had rainy seasons lasting until the middle of autumn, which is certainly a shift," explained a high-ranking meteorology official.
Increasing Weather Severity
Even more concerning is the heavy precipitation and snowfall the concluding phase of the period brings, like it did this time on early October.
High in the Himalayas, such extreme weather means snowstorms and winter storms, which represents a huge danger for hiking, climbing and tourism.
Firsthand Accounts
Exactly what happened recently when the conditions changed very abruptly - the winds began roaring, temperatures plummeted and sightlines decreased drastically.
The road that had comfortably led the trekkers to what was expected to be a breathtaking pitstop was now buried in snow and impossible to navigate.
Still, one trekker, who had hiked the Himalayas more than a dozen times, said he had "never encountered weather like these" before.
Expert Analysis
One major factor is the increased amount of moisture in the air because of how the world has been heating up, scientists say.
This has contributed to heavy precipitation over a brief period of duration, frequently after a extended dry spell – in contrast to in the past when seasonal rains were distributed uniformly over the entire season.
A Turbocharged Monsoon
Weather specialists say the rainy seasons in South Asia at occasions appear to have become more intense because they are increasingly interacting with another weather system, the western weather pattern.
This is a atmospheric depression that forms in the Mediterranean area and travels eastward - it carries cold air that causes rains and sometimes snowfall to the subcontinent, Pakistan and the Himalayan region.
Climate Change Effects
Researchers have also discovered that in a warming planet, the growing interaction between western weather systems and seasonal rains is producing another unusual outcome.
The hotter atmosphere is forcing the weather systems higher, which means these weather systems are now capable to cross the mountain barrier and affect Tibet and other areas that previously experienced less so much rain in the past.
"The transformation is the reliability of weather patterns; we cannot presume that situations will behave the same from season to season," said an seasoned expedition guide.
"That means adaptable planning, immediate choices, and knowledgeable guidance [in the Himalayas] have become even more important."
