Blizzard Warning for Hawaii Today:

This is still fun.  This is still frustrating.  NOAA has issued a Blizzard Warning for Hawaii today while the West Coast braces for record high temperatures this week.

The Big Island of Hawaii is expecting 3-5 more inches of snow today for a potential snow total of 5-8″ above 11,500-feet and winds up to 85mph

Yes, you can ski on Hawaii.  

Skiing Mauna Kea is very real.  The Mauna Kea Ski Corporation rents skis and snowboards for $50/day.  They claim that 2,500 to 4,500-vertical-foot runs are a very real possibility.  These guys can also arrange shuttles to pick you up and drop you off at the top to maximize vertical.

How often does it snow in Hawaii?

“It snows here every year, but only at the very summits of our three tallest volcanoes (Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala).” – Ken Rubin, an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii

“The snow level almost never gets below 9,000 feet in Hawaii during the winter, but since these mountains are taller than 13,600 feet, 13,700 feet and 10,000 feet, respectively, they get dusted with snow a few times a year. It rarely stays on the ground for more than a few days though.” – Ken Rubin, an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii

NOAA’s Blizzard Warning for Hawaii

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
353 PM HST WED MAR 11 2015

...BLIZZARD WARNING FOR THE BIG ISLAND SUMMITS ABOVE 11000 FEET
THROUGH THURSDAY...

.BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH VERY STRONG WINDS AND SNOW...BLOWING
SNOW...AND FREEZING FOG CREATING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE AT THE SUMMITS. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
INTO THURSDAY.

* LOCATIONS...BIG ISLAND SUMMITS ABOVE 11000 FEET.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND FREEZING FOG.

* ACCUMULATIONS....ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* TIMING...THROUGH THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL TO THE SUMMITS...EITHER ON FOOT OR BY
  VEHICLE...WILL BE DANGEROUS.

* WINDS...WEST 45 TO 65 MPH WITH LOCALIZED GUSTS OVER 85 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 20S.

* VISIBILITIES...QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS IN SNOW...BLOWING
  SNOW...AND FREEZING FOG.