Here's a mid-July update to current conditions:

The trail is completely open, with no snow at all to cross. The two most important things to beware of are weather and altitude sickness (AMS).

Thunderstorms can occur any day during the summer, but between mid-July and the end of August is when they are more frequent. Pay close attention to the weather forecasts (See the Mt Whitney Weather links, especially the NOAA site for the Mt Whitney summit.

AMS affects a high percentage of Mt Whitney hikers. Symptoms are: headache, lack of appetite, nausea, disorientation. (While it is rare, people can die from the worst altitude symptoms: HACE and HAPE.) If all you experience is a slight headache, or your appetite leaves, you might be ok. But if things get worse: bad headache or vomiting, dizziness or disorientation, TURN AROUND and descend immediately. Here's a trip report worth reading: MMWT July 13th 2012   There are three sections in the Orientation Notes covering altitude issues and acclimatization.

Also, this year for the first time, a cougar (mountain lion) has been encountered just above Outpost Camp / Bighorn Park. If hiking in the dark, hiking with a group is best. Here's a list of do's and don'ts from www.cougarinfo.org

Edit: No additional mountain lion reports have come since that time, so it has probably moved on.