{"id":23516,"date":"2023-09-14T09:34:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T14:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everest.com\/everestdigest\/\/?p=23516"},"modified":"2025-10-08T06:37:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T11:37:02","slug":"2023s-extreme-weather-anomalies-and-what-they-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everest.com\/everestdigest\/2023s-extreme-weather-anomalies-and-what-they-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"2023\u2019s Extreme Weather Anomalies and What They Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I was researching the weather forecast for the Tetons, I was excited for what looked like a clear day of hiking ahead of me. I had a 22 mile loop planned out, going up and over a high mountain pass. I knew it was going to be a long day for the legs, and I thought I was in luck for the first clear day in nearly a week out in Grand Teton National Park. All of the weather forecasts I looked at predicted clear blue skies all day; I felt so fortunate that my biggest mileage day in the Tetons looked like there wouldn\u2019t even be a cloud in the sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A clear view of the South and Middle Tetons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I knew I had about five miles of exposed terrain above tree line, so I was making sure to keep an eye on the weather and cloud formations so I wouldn\u2019t encounter any thunderstorms on that pass. I was hoping to get this stretch of the trail done before noon, as daily afternoon thunderstorms (monsoons) are quite common out in the Rocky Mountains, even if it\u2019s not in the forecast. I woke up at 6:00 that morning, still checking my weather to see if any developments had occurred overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The conditions looked perfect for me, and as I was driving into the Park, I got to get my real first good look at those mountains since I\u2019d been there, as they\u2019d been in the clouds for the days prior. Looking up at the Grand for the first time felt like looking at Everest, not that I\u2019ve been to Nepal or anything, but the point is I was blown away by the stature and dominance of the mountain. I couldn\u2019t wait for my hike that day, eager to see what the Tetons could show me and teach me on this treacherous hike.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I started at about 7:30 that morning, with the early morning sun shining through the trees and a cool breeze to welcome me into this marvelous range. About thirty minutes into my hike, I started experiencing an on and off light rain for nearly an hour. It was nothing terrible, and honestly it felt really nice, but it did make me hyper aware that this weather can change at any moment, and I had a gut feeling it was going to persist as my hike went on. Right as I was approaching the end of the tree line, at about 10:00 am, I saw some darker clouds rolling in over the ridge, and I immediately got dumped on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I sat underneath the last big Subalpine Fire before the treeline disappeared for thirty minutes to wait until the storm could pass. I had enough service to check the weather for the specific peak I was crossing, Paintbrush Peak, and it said it was going to clear up in the next hour. I waited until the rain stopped, but I knew I was still taking a risk going to cross the mountain pass. I was able to see the bright blue sky again and felt safe going over the pass, especially since I hadn\u2019t heard any thunder and the clouds didn\u2019t look like heavy storm clouds. As I reached the top of the pass, I got slapped with piercing hail for my three miles descending below the alpine terrain. Luckily, I never encountered thunder and lightning, but I was ready to run down the mountain and into the trees if I saw it coming.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I was visiting Grand Teton National Park after living in Northern California for the preceding three months, where I never once had to worry about rain or storms. I have lived in the mountains of Colorado for a few years now, so I\u2019m used to the regular monsoons, but what I experienced in the Tetons that week was far different than anything before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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My older brother lives in the area, and said this year was nothing like he\u2019s ever experienced weather wise. I have heard the same from my people in Colorado this summer, with crazy flash floods almost sweeping my partner\u2019s car off the street. I\u2019ve been doing some research about why this summer has been getting increasingly more intense as the months go on, and I\u2019ve found some really interesting science behind this.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Trying to capture the Grand Teton in the clouds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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