Weather
A storm system known locally as a “Kona Low” has brought widespread precipitation to the Hawaiian Islands, including snowfall atop its highest peaks. While there are no official measurements, unofficial estimates suggest that up to 10 inches of snow fell at the summit of Mauna Kea between December 4–5.
Mauna Kea does get fairly regular snow in the winter but most storms only leave dustings for brief amounts of time. Measuring 13,803 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in Hawaii and one of the highest island peaks on Earth. Despite its tropical latitude, winter conditions at the summit are often alpine. Average temperatures in December and January typically hover around freezing, with daytime highs often in the low to mid-30s°F (1–3°C)and overnight lows frequently dropping into the 20s°F (-4 to -6°C). Combined with strong winds and low humidity, the summit regularly experiences conditions more reminiscent of the Rockies than the Pacific. The most recent snow storm was a few months ago in November when roughly four inches fell at the peak.
- Related: Hawaii Under Winter Weather Advisory
Hawaii’s modern snowfall record was set in early December 2016, when estimates suggest nearly two feet of snow fell over the course of three days. Prior to that event, the record was believed to be just six inches.
If the current estimates are accurate, this Kona Low would mark one of the more significant snowfalls in recent Hawaiian history. Enough to ski on? Probably not—but it remains a rare and striking sight atop the islands’ highest peak.
PHOTOS FROM 2016 SNOWFALL
