Always check the weather forecast. If, for example, the forecast for the Eastern Sierra says "20% chance of thunderstorms", it is a good indication that lightning storms could occur on Mt. Whitney. The past several weeks have been like that over here in the Owens Valley area and thunderstorms have happened. The summit ridge and summit of Whitney are bad places to be in a thunderstorm.
Very large puffy clouds are good indicators of storm potential, and sometimes they can develop rapidly, over a couple of hours. Most mountain thunderstorms begin to occur in the afternoon and may continue into the night.
If your hair starts standing up or metal objects on you start to sparkle, run like hell off the mountain; you are about to be a target.
Last edited by Bob West; 08/01/17 03:56 PM.
