Everest Route Opens, But Weather Window Closes – Explorersweb »

Climbers about to reach the summit of Everest today, along a windy ridge. Photo: Mingma Sherpa/Seven Summit Treks The joint effort of a large Sherpa team has fixed the route to the summit of Everest in record time. However, the hundreds of climbers waiting for their turn after the long delay will have to remain patient. According to meteorologist Marc de Keyser, the weather window is slamming shut today. From now until May 17, the wind will be too strong to summit, de Keyser explained. Here is a detailed explanation, courtesy of his Weather 4 Expeditions meteo service: Upper air pattern and jet stream The upstream branch of the subtropical jet stream is rapidly approaching, and the leading edge is now just west of Nepal. This jet is moving quite rapidly eastward and will move over the Himalaya later today. On Everest, this will lead to a significant wind increase between 18:00 and 21:00 UTC tonight.   This development is associated with the approach of a rather strong high-pressure ridge, which will have a favorable influence on the air mass. [It] will clear most of the clouds above 5,500/6,000m, and this will last for the best part of this period.
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