Direct observations of a Mt Everest snowstorm from the world's highest surface‐based radar observations

In this study the observed snowstorm extended higher (9780m asl) than the elevation of Mt Everest 8850m per updated guidance from National Geographic (8850m asl), suggesting that new snow accumulation on the summit was possible, and cloud immersion was likely. However, most of the time, snowfall was confined to altitudes below the summit. The radar echo contained both upward and downward motions, as well as episodes of higher spectral width indicative of turbulence and environments favourable for riming. These unique vertically pointing radar measurements represent the highest altitude snowstorm ever directly measured from the surface. Although there are lower air pressures at the Everest Base Camp (~530hPa) compared to mountain snowstorms at lower elevations, the structure of the storm is not noticeably different; typical snowstorm structures and their heights above ground level are instead displaced higher relative to sea level. Observations of this single event suggest that satellite‐based remote sensing of snowstorms can utilise assumptions of similar structures across a range of mountain elevations.