A severe winter storm that impacted the Big Island of Hawaii over the weekend dropped 1-2+ feet of snow on the summit of Mauna Kea, with somewhat lighter amounts falling on nearby Mauna Loa. The storm responsible for blanketing the volcanic peaks of Hawaii also dumped a large amount of rain on the island; the National Weather Service said over the 48-hour period that ended at 1 pm Sunday, Saddle Quarry recorded 29.12 inches of rainfall while Hakalau saw 26.39″ and Pahala recorded 20.30″.
Road crews were busy plowing out the Mauna Kea Access Road Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; some portions of the roadway had also washed away, leading crews to regrade areas that were subject to erosion from the heavy precipitation that hit the island. Early Thursday morning, the road was re-opened to the public, delighting fans of snow.
On Thursday, the usually quiet summit of Mauna Kea was buzzing with locals and tourists eager to see the snow. By lunchtime, more than a dozen winter sport enthusiasts took to the slopes, using skis and snowboards to glide down the deep, wet snow. One skier also appeared to be ready for the beach after his ski down-slope; he went down the island with skis and boots, but nothing other than a bathing suit on even though air temperatures were in the upper 30s. Others were looking to take a piece of winter with them; many pick-up trucks lined the summit roadways, filling them with snow to bring to family and friends waiting at lower and warmer elevations. The summit of Mauna Kea, known as the best place in the northern hemisphere for telescopes, also saw telescope workers return to their jobs, working to free their tools of snow and ice that have accumulated on them in recent days.
Hawaii’s Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, at 13,803 feet and 13,678 feet respectively, rise well above the warm tropical beaches that surround the edges of the island. While it’s the state closest to the Equator, the high elevation of Hawaii’s Big Island peaks are high enough to tangle with cold air found high in the sky. In the winter, storms frequently tap into cold air to produce snow on the volcanic peaks while soaking rains fall at lower elevations. Snow can also fall during other times of the year; strong storms to move over the islands have been known to bring down just enough cold air to produce quick snow even in summer months. While many elsewhere in the country were surprised to learn that portions of Hawaii were under a Winter Storm Warning last weekend, it’s a relatively common occurrence, especially during winter months when winter storms drop heavy precipitation in the Aloha State.
With the highest peaks in the state, Hawaii’s Big Island usually has a monopoly on accumulating snow. However, during some intense storms, enough cold air can be brought down closer to the surface, resulting in lower elevation snows elsewhere. Last February, snow fell on Haleakalā on the island of Maui, which rises several thousand feet shorter than the taller mountains on Hawaii.
And up and down the slopes of #MaunaKea on Hawaii’s Big Island, you see this: locals loading up the back of pick-up trucks with snow to bring to their friends & family back at sea level. While it was 38 here, it was 85 at the coast just a 90 minute drive away from here. #HIwx pic.twitter.com/4PIm15soyx
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) January 17, 2020
We even brought our mascot to the top of #MaunaKea and made a little snowman. There’s no plant/tree life up here, so no sticks for arms. Looks a little like a Hawaiian #MonkSeal ? #HIwx pic.twitter.com/K9Suh5wy3m
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) January 17, 2020
This plateau on #MaunaKea, below the summit and tucked behind a hill where most other telescopes are, is where #ThirtyMeterTelescope aka #TMT will be built in the spring when the snow melts and the ground thaws. Nothing but rocks, snow, and distant clouds here for now. #HIwx pic.twitter.com/rG35IuQVUR
— the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) January 17, 2020
