Winter Weather Advisories Issued for Hawaii for Freezing Rain

Sign warns drivers to engage lower gear on some of the steep roadways on Mauna Kea. Image: Weatherboy — Sign warns drivers to engage lower gear on some of the steep roadways on Mauna Kea in this file photo. Mauna Kea is included in today’s Winter Weather Advisory. Image: Weatherboy

The National Weather Service in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu have issued Winter Weather Advisories for the summits of the Big Island of Hawaii for today. According to the National Weather Service, layered clouds will generate periods of freezing rain primarily at elevations above 13,00 feet.

“A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet, or freezing rain will cause travel difficulties,” the Hawaii-based National Weather Service office said in a bulletin this morning. “Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities and use caution while driving.”

The advisory runs through noon Hawaii time or 6 pm ET today.

A snowboarder looks at the slopes of Mauna Kea before gliding down its fresh December snowfall. Image: Weatherboy

While most people don’t associate the tropical paradise Hawaii is known for with snow, they’re surprised to learn that it does snow in the winter due to the elevation of these volcanic peaks. Mauna Kea is the highest of the bunch at 13,803 feet. Maui’s Haleakala is much lower at 10,023 feet. Because of that difference, Hawaii Island will see snow more frequently than the lower Maui Island. Just one storm in January 2020 dropped 2-3 feet of snow on Hawaii Island and created snow drifts that were far deeper. Another storm in January 2021 brought snowboarders and skiers out to the mountain by the dozens.