A contributing factor ( just one of many ), and one that IS specific to the location, is that the storm came from the west, the one direction they couldn't see as they were climbing. They didn't have a true hint of their problems until they toped out and could see to the west.
Quoteth the incident report:
"THE WEATHER SURPRISE: Hiding a storm behind a mountain is one of Mother Nature's standard tricks."
That's right. That is one of Mother Nature's STANDARD TRICKS. There is nothing unique about Cathedral Peak here. If you climb any mountain from the east, you won't see the storm coming from the west. However, you can see what's to the west of Cathedral Peak before you start up. On Whitney, the eastern approach to the Palisades, and many other climbs, you have no way to see what's about to get you before it happens.
