Rainier Late March Weather?

[grubburg]

What can I expect for DC route?

 

Any online resources for historical data?

 

I'm coming from California and looking forward to it, but don't have everest gear (i.e. full body down suit!) to survive if it gets too cold.

[Dave7]

Weather can be fickle in the spring, but you shouldn't need a full down body suit. http://www.mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com/

 

This website has some pretty forecasting resources and climbing blog that will have relevant info for you.

[DPS]

March is the wettest month of the year, so expect lots of precipitation and short weather windows.

[num1mc]

March is the wettest month of the year

 

That doesn't sound right

[DPS]

March is the wettest month of the year

 

That doesn't sound right

 

It is not right. I misinterpreted some data compiled by our hydrologist. March typically has the heaviest rainfall, but on average Nov., Jan., and Dec. have higher accumulative rainfalls. Last year, however, March was the wettest month: http://www.seattleweatherblog.com/rain-stats/rainfall-2014/

Edited December 19, 2014 by DPS

[obwan]

I have not checked any wind records - but from personal experience, March is one of the windiest. Then add the ability of Rainier to make it's own wind - which will kick your ass!

[Big Mitch]

The road from Longmire to Paradise may not be open for days at a time due to weather closure.

[num1mc]

March is the wettest month of the year

 

That doesn't sound right

 

It is not right. I misinterpreted some data compiled by our hydrologist. March typically has the heaviest rainfall, but on average Nov., Jan., and Dec. have higher accumulative rainfalls. Last year, however, March was the wettest month: http://www.seattleweatherblog.com/rain-stats/rainfall-2014/

 

Yea, the old WE will get cha'

[grubburg]

March is the wettest month of the year

 

That doesn't sound right

 

It is not right. I misinterpreted some data compiled by our hydrologist. March typically has the heaviest rainfall, but on average Nov., Jan., and Dec. have higher accumulative rainfalls. Last year, however, March was the wettest month: http://www.seattleweatherblog.com/rain-stats/rainfall-2014/

 

just curious, why use seattle data for rainier precipitation? i'm sure there's a correlation, but how close is the correlation?

[grubburg]

Weather can be fickle in the spring, but you shouldn't need a full down body suit. http://www.mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com/

 

This website has some pretty forecasting resources and climbing blog that will have relevant info for you.

 

what's the coldest i can expect?

[DPS]

 

just curious, why use seattle data for rainier precipitation? i'm sure there's a correlation, but how close is the correlation?

 

R = .97

 

[Water]

The road from Longmire to Paradise may not be open for days at a time due to weather closure.

 

truth in that it may not be open for days at a time. however to clarify, at times, the weather is entirely unrelated to accessibility, there is a political process/component to opening the gate.

 

 

[laurel]

Here is your data to answer this and all other "What is the weather like at X in Y month" questions:

 

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wa6898

 

Click around starting at

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/coopmap/

to find data for a couple thousand other weather stations (one thing to watch out for -- the "Period of Record" is different for every weather station, so if you want to actually compare two different stations you need to use something like "Custom Monthly Listing" to set the same time range).

 

 

 

 

[obwan]

You could probably even Google some websites, and I also find useful data on the UW and NWAC sometimes. Maybe you'd have to contact them for historical data - I'm always able to get a few days forecast with altitudes,wind and temps; being a local helps. Check these links:

www.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html

 

www.nwac.us/weatherdata/paradise/now/

[DPS]

Is there any particular reason why you want to climb Rainier in March? Late spring and early summer typically have much more favorable weather.

Edited December 22, 2014 by DPS

[ScaredSilly]

This is some what of the asshole reply - if you have to ask such general questions on the internet you probably should not be on the hill that time of year.

 

 

That said expect everything - one year we had very nice conditions except for winds strong enough to give one a snow flake enema. Of course then we saw the whole of the Willis drop a load.

 

[DPS]

This is some what of the asshole reply - if you have to ask such general questions on the internet you probably should not be on the hill that time of year.

 

 

It needed to be said, but I didn't want to be the one to say it.

[grubburg]

This is some what of the asshole reply - if you have to ask such general questions on the internet you probably should not be on the hill that time of year.

 

 

That said expect everything - one year we had very nice conditions except for winds strong enough to give one a snow flake enema. Of course then we saw the whole of the Willis drop a load.

 

not really a "general" question. it's really a request for links to reliable weather data, which the other members were kind enough to provide. thanks!

[grubburg]

Here is your data to answer this and all other "What is the weather like at X in Y month" questions:

 

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wa6898

 

Click around starting at

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/coopmap/

to find data for a couple thousand other weather stations (one thing to watch out for -- the "Period of Record" is different for every weather station, so if you want to actually compare two different stations you need to use something like "Custom Monthly Listing" to set the same time range).

 

 

 

 

great data for march.

 

RAINIER PARADISE RNGER, WASHINGTON (456898)

Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary

Period of Record : 12/1/1916 to 3/31/2013

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual

Average Max. Temperature (F) 32.3 34.2 36.0 41.5 48.5 53.7 62.1 62.6 57.2 47.5 37.7 33.0 45.5

Average Min. Temperature (F) 20.5 21.5 22.2 25.6 31.3 36.5 42.7 43.7 39.7 32.8 25.5 21.2 30.3

Average Total Precipitation (in.) 17.51 12.21 11.83 7.82 5.01 4.33 1.73 2.49 5.34 9.99 16.21 17.95 112.42

Average Total SnowFall (in.) 128.7 94.6 107.0 62.3 22.8 5.9 0.4 0.1 2.9 26.9 86.9 116.2 654.8

Average Snow Depth (in.) 112 143 168 173 145 83 22 1 0 4 26 70 79

Percent of possible observations for period of record.

Max. Temp.: 92.7% Min. Temp.: 92.5% Precipitation: 93.4% Snowfall: 93% Snow Depth: 91.7%

Check Station Metadata or Metadata graphics for more detail about data completeness.

[grubburg]

that's at 5400 feet.

[Big Mitch]

The road from Longmire to Paradise may not be open for days at a time due to weather closure.

 

truth in that it may not be open for days at a time. however to clarify, at times, the weather is entirely unrelated to accessibility, there is a political process/component to opening the gate.

 

 

I don't understand what you are saying here. Please explain. Thank you.

 

What I wrote was based upon my direct experience. I went to do a climb in mid-March 2011. The snow was so heavy above Longmire that the road was not opened for three days to enable the plows to clear the road.

[Water]

Big Mitch,

 

It is certainly true the road closes due to weather at times. It is much too long to go into here to explain. But suffice to say the weather is absolutely not the sole reason the road stays closed/doesn't open/doesn't open in time. Read up if you'd like to know more.

http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=26113.0

[Big Mitch]

Thank you! That link was very informative considering I am planning a trip there end of January.

Edited December 25, 2014 by Big Mitch

[mattp]

For winter attempts on Rainier as well as other Cascades peaks, good climbing conditions (firm surface and minimal avalanche hazard) are not predictable via any long term forecast. If you can adjust your climbing itinerary, try to go when it has not snowed for at least a week and, even better, when the freezing level rose up high before the dry spell.

 

[Fromage]

I've guided Rainier in March and from personal experience the weather and conditions have been unfavorable for climbing more often than not. In a way this has been ideal for my purposes, since the trips I usually guided were week-long Denali prep courses. The more wind, snow, and misery we encountered on Rainier the better prepared the clients would be for Alaska. I have never made it above Ingraham Flats on these trips. Even when the weather was tolerable the snow conditions were unsafe above Cathedral Gap. Lots of snow drifts on the upper mountain an builds up slabs that can become surprisingly deep.

 

It's certainly possible to climb the mountain at that time of year, but many stars must align to make it a pleasant experience. If everything works out it can be a special time to be up there since you won't have much company, but that's often for a good reason.