Honolulu, HI — Hawaii’s highest peaks are bracing for a rare dose of winter as an upper-level low sweeps across the state, prompting a Winter Weather Advisory for the Big Island summits. The National Weather Service in Honolulu says the advisory runs from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday.
Forecasters expect a mix of snow and freezing rain on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, with totals reaching 3 to 5 inches of snow and as much as one-tenth of an inch of ice. As moisture deepens overnight, conditions at the summits are likely to deteriorate, and blowing snow could drop visibility to near zero at times.
What to expect:
– 3 to 5 inches of snowfall at high elevations
– Up to 0.10 inch of ice accumulation
– Periods of whiteout conditions from blowing snow
– Very difficult travel on summit access roads
Officials urge anyone heading to the high country to use extreme caution and postpone nonessential travel. Icy roads, strong winds, and rapidly changing conditions may create hazardous situations for drivers and visitors.
The cold system is forecast to shift westward by Sunday morning, bringing gradual improvement to the Big Island’s summit weather. However, the National Weather Service notes additional advisories may be issued if freezing temperatures linger.
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