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Heavy Snow Blankets Hawaii

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - May 3, 2017

A storm system known as a Kona Low brought significant snow to the highest elevations of the Big Island of Hawaii over the weekend and Monday. Another disturbance is producing measurable snow on the island’s Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa summits now.

In the break between the bouts of snow, we sent a meteorologist from our team to Mauna Kea to document the snowfall there. Generally 6″ fell on the high terrain, although some snow drifts were in excess of one foot. With a high sun angle from the warm May sun, the snow shouldn’t last too long.

While snow does impact the higher terrain of Maui and Hawaii from time to time, it is rare to get snow on the Big Island after April.

Weatherboy visits Mauna Kea after the unusual May 1, 2017 snowstorm.
Snow tops Mauna Kea after the unusual May 1, 2017 snowstorm.  Photograph: Weatherboy




Mauna2The Mauna Kea Access road was open briefly on May 3 after and before a round of accumulating snow impacted the higher terrain of Hawaii.
The Mauna Kea Access road was open briefly on May 3 after and before a round of accumulating snow impacted the higher terrain of Hawaii. Photograph: Hawaii
Weatherboy visits Mauna Kea after the May 1, 2017 snowstorm there in Hawaii.
Weatherboy visits Mauna Kea after the May 1, 2017 snowstorm there in Hawaii.  Photograph: Weatherboy




Snow and ice encase a camera/sensor outside an Observatory on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii.  Photograph: Weatherboy
Snow and ice encase a camera/sensor outside an Observatory on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Photograph: Weatherboy
The snow-covered summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii stands at 13,803 feet.  Photograph: Weatherboy
The snow-covered summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii stands at 13,803 feet. Photograph: Weatherboy




Mauna6Road crews were quick to plow the heavy snow that blanketed this region in Hawaii.  Photograph: Weatherboy
Road crews were quick to plow the heavy snow that blanketed this region in Hawaii. Photograph: Weatherboy
Snow is measured in Hawaii using a Weatherboy yardstick.   Photograph: Weatherboy
Snow is measured in Hawaii using a Weatherboy yardstick. Photograph: Weatherboy




Snowdrifts in Hawaii on top of Mauna Kea.  Photograph: Weatherboy
Snowdrifts in Hawaii on top of Mauna Kea. Photograph: Weatherboy
Mauna9Telescopes and snow on Hawaii's Mauna Kea.   Photograph: Weatherboy
Telescopes and snow on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea. Photograph: Weatherboy




Ice and snow fell from observatories as the warm Hawaii sun hit, creating a hazard below.   Photograph: Weatherboy
Ice and snow fell from observatories as the warm Hawaii sun hit, creating a hazard below. Photograph: Weatherboy
Gravel road on Mauna Kea is cleared of snow after an usual May snowstorm in Hawaii.  Photograph: Weatherboy
Gravel road on Mauna Kea is cleared of snow after an usual May snowstorm in Hawaii. Photograph: Weatherboy




Mauna12Weatherboy checks out the snowy landscape on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.  Photograph:  Weatherboy
Weatherboy checks out the snowy landscape on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Photograph: Weatherboy
Time for fun in the snow! Weatherboy makes a snowman in the snow on top of Mauna Kea after a late season snowstorm brought heavy snow to Hawaii in May.  Photograph:  Weatherboy
Time for fun in the snow! Weatherboy makes a snowman in the snow on top of Mauna Kea after a late season snowstorm brought heavy snow to Hawaii in May. Photograph: Weatherboy




4x4 only: with harsh terrain and snow, the only way to navigate around Mauna Kea today is by a four wheel drive vehicle.  Photograph: Weatherboy
4×4 only: with harsh terrain and snow, the only way to navigate around Mauna Kea today is by a four wheel drive vehicle. Photograph: Weatherboy
Not a usual site: a vehicle with Hawaii license plates driving in the snow ...in Hawaii ...in May.   Photograph: Weatherboy
Not a usual site: a vehicle with Hawaii license plates driving in the snow …in Hawaii …in May. Photograph: Weatherboy

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