• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

Winter Storm Continues in Hawaii

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - April 30, 2017

Gray skies over Waikoloa looking up to Mauna Loa, where Winter Storm Warnings are up. Photograph: Weatherboy
Gray skies over Waikoloa looking up to Mauna Loa, where Winter Storm Warnings are up today. Photograph: Weatherboy

The National Weather Service office in Honolulu, Hawaii continues Winter Storm Warnings for the higher elevations of the Big Island of Hawaii today as a Kona Low moves through the Aloha State.

A Kona Low is a storm more typical of the winter weather season in the Pacific and is formed with winds coming from a westerly direction. In the Hawaiian language, “Kona” typically refers to the western side of the Island. (It is also the name for Hawaii Island’s largest city on the western side, Kona.) These cold-core, extratropical cyclones often bring numerous days of hazardous weather to the entire island state. Hazards can include extremely heavy tropical downpours which cause flash floods, landslides, rockslides, and mudslides. Other hazards include large hail, damaging wind gusts, and rough, potentially destructive surf.


Kona Lows also produce something that Hawaii isn’t generally known for: heavy snow. While images of palm trees and poolside cocktails with umbrellas are the first thoughts that come to mind about outdoor life in Hawaii, the state’s highest elevations often will get snow in the winter months. Kona Lows produce some of the heaviest snows in Hawaii.

This week’s Kona Low is no exception to the heavy snow: 6″ or more is expected on the Big Island summits and upper slopes today.  In addition to heavy snow, damaging winds in excess of hurricane force are expected; the National Weather Service warns that southwest to west winds of 55-65mph are likely with gusts over 75mph. In past Kona Low storm systems, winds have exceeded 100mph. Heavy snow with strong winds will lead to poor visibility below 1/4 mile. Due to the severe winter weather, the Mauna Kea Summit road has been closed by local officials today.

Here are photographs of other Hawaii snowstorms we’ve captured.

While heavy snow will accumulate on Hawaii’s Big Island, flooding rains are a problem elsewhere in the state, with considerable flooding an issue on parts of Oahu and Maui.

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Greatest Threat for Tornadoes on Saturday in the U.S. will be in New Jersey & Delaware
  • Watches, Warnings for High Winds Issued for Expected Damaging Gusts
  • TV Meteorologist Dr. Frank Field Turns 100
  • Particularly Dangerous Situation Unfolding Over Iowa, Illinois, Missouri with Violent Storms, Tornadoes
  • Fiona and Ian Retired from Storm Name List; Farrah and Idris to be Added
  • Severe Weather Threat Returns to Mississippi Valley on Friday
  • Deadline for SBA Aid for Kauai Drought Coming Soon
  • Another Atmospheric River Event Slams into West Coast; More Epic Rain, Snow Expected
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022