Hawaii's Big Island Peaks May See Up to 30 Inches of Snow

Jon Erdman
Published: December 2,2016
Yes, it's snowing in Hawaii, but don't rush to cancel your vacation if you're looking to escape colder weather. This snow is falling over the peaks of the Big Island of Hawaii, including Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Big Island's volcanic peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa through Saturday evening.
The warning says that 20 to 30 inches of snow is possible above 11,000 feet through Saturday, accompanied by south winds from 10 to 20 mph, leading to blowing and drifting snow.

Hawaii Winter Alerts

Except for the south winds, this sounds like something you'd experience in, say, the Dakotas.
This prompted officials to close a section of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park above the Red Hill Cabin, including the summit of Mauna Loa Thursday, reported Big Island Now.
Also shut down was the road up to Mauna Kea at the visitor station, above 9,200 feet, due to fog, heavy snow and icy conditions, according to Hawaii News Now. This gave residents and visitors to the Big Island a relatively rare view of the snow-capped peaks from lower elevations.

This photo provided by Grant Matsushige, an Instrumentation Specialist at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, shows the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island covered in snow, as seen from Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Dec. 1,2016.
(Grant Matsushige/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP)

The instigator for the snow was an upper-level area of low pressure, both lowering snow levels just enough over the peaks and slinging deep moisture into the island chain.

Water Vapor Satellite Image

For the rest of the Hawaiian Islands, the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms has prompted flood watches to be issued.
(INTERACTIVE: Hawaii Radar)

How Strange Is This?

According to Ken Rubin, an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii, "It snows here every year, but only at the very summits of our three tallest volcanoes (Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala).

In this image made from webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island, is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1,2016.
(Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP)

"The snow level almost never gets below 9,000 feet in Hawaii during the winter, but since these mountains are taller than 13,600 feet, 13,700 feet and 10,000 feet, respectively, they get dusted with snow a few times a year," he added. "It rarely stays on the ground for more than a few days though."
In fact, it even snowed atop the summits in late July 2015.
(MORE: 10 Shocking Snow Cities)
Technically, it is possible to ski in Hawaii, but there are a lot of caveats.
Mauna Kea Ski Corporation explains that "Mauna Kea is a National Science Reserve and is not maintained as a ski area. Skiing areas may have unmarked and exposed rocks. Adverse weather conditions may arise unexpectedly ... most runs are for intermediate to advanced skiers/snowboarders ... weather permitting."
In addition, the Hawaii Ski Club cautions potential skiers that "there are no lifts, no grooming, no resort, but a road goes to the summit to serve the dozen or so world-class observatories located at the summit. You must have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to the summit, which serves as your 'lift.'" The club adds that skiers take turns being the driver, picking up the other skiers at the bottom of the runs and ferrying them up to the summit.
(MORE: 10 Facts About Snow That May Surprise You)
"Conditions at the top are extremely variable. Winter temperatures range from 25 to 40 degrees, but wind chill and the high altitude can make it seem much colder. Between April and November the weather is milder, with daytime temperatures varying from 30 to 60 degrees."
Bottom line, it may be better to "Hang 10" near the beach rather than ski down a Hawaiian mountain. Thankfully, technology is on snowbirds' side: beautiful views of Mauna Kea's peaks can be seen via the Mauna Kea Weather Center's webcams.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been an incurable weather geek since a tornado narrowly missed his childhood home in Wisconsin at age 7.