Snowstorm in Hawaii
February 20th, 2012 at 3:11 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, News, Weather
This pictures came to www.woodtv.com on ReportIt from MME. Thanks so much! These are pictures of a snowstorm in the high elevations of the Big Island of Hawaii. They report 6″ of snow with drifts a foot high! The snow and ice have closed the road to the summit area of Mauna Kea. Webcams here (daylight hours). A Winter Storm Warning was issued for both snow and freezing rain. Temperatures on the summits dipped as low as 16 degrees with wind chill temperatures in the single figures. More pictures here. More webcams and also here. Also, Cowabunga, Dude…check out the surf Thursday in Hawaii at Pipeline. Surf Advisories and Wind Advisories have been in effect. Rainfall has been heavy in high elevations and windward areas. Mt. View reported 5.31″ (Big Island), Mt. Waialeale 3.42″ (Kauai), 2.40″ Puu Kukui (Maui). Hilo had 2.25″, bringing their rainfall total since Dec. 1 to 26.26″. Here’s current conditions in Hawaii.
I didn’t think it snowed in Hawaii. I thought the Ocean kept those Islands too warm. Interesting! That is our Snow Storm, give it back to us, Hawaii!
This certainly has been an odd winter that is for sure, things that make you go hmmmmm
There always will be odd winters. That’s just the way things go. Next year we might get a strict winter.
Dan- I return to Stanton, MI late on March 6. I will try to figure out between now and then how I can tie on to these storms from the higher elevations and bring them back with me, for you! Watch for a Michigan snow storm that night!
Bill-Thanks for posting all the details about the Hawaii weather. A couple weeks ago, the surf was so extreme that the beach, North Shore Oahu, was shut down even for the professionals. Waves were Eddie Aikau size, but came in too late in the day and were short lived http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/slideshow?widgetid=44874 30 foot faces!
And yes, snow is not unusual on the island of Hawaii even though only 19 degrees north of the equator, as the elevation at the summits runs roughly +13,000 ft.
Mauna Kea has a ski area at the top – snow is fairly common. I was on the Ski Patrol at Cannonsburg and we always laughed about how cool it would be to join THEIR Ski Patrol!!
Good Day,
Ski in the morning, surf in the afternoon!
Steelie
Of course, there’s always a *catch* – if you break through the snow and hit lava rocks – they will shred your equipment
http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/big-island/snowboarding/
Be sure and watch the video at the bottom of the page – incredible views!!!
I have been up Mauna Kea and there is no ski area. Just telescopes. It does snow up there often, it was when I went up there in April.
“Mauna Kea (Hawaiian for ‘white mountain’) is a 13,796′ (4205 meter) volcanic mountain whose summit usually gets a skiable/boardable mantle of snow several times each winter. There are no lifts, no grooming, no resort, but a road goes to the summit to serve the dozen or so world class observatories located at the summit. You must have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to the summit, which serves as your “lift.” Basically, skiers take turns being the driver, who picks up the other skiers at the bottom of the runs and ferries them up to the summit.”
sorry charlie….. I’m from the Big Island of Hawaii and yes, there IS a ski area at the summit.
Not trying to make you mad, it just doesn’t fit the definition of the rest of the world. My back yard isn’t a ski area just because it has snow.
Snow on Mauna Kea is not “odd”. Mauna Kea means “White Mountain” for a reason! I worked in Hawaii at the Observatory for four years, and in that time I saw snow even in July and August (though not like right now). Anyway I am here again on a work visit and we got snowed off Tuesday. Not a bad assignment though, when you figure that a snow day equals a beach day!
I do know there are mountains on the island of Hawaii and I think on top of those mountains they receive a dusting or two of snow. Seems strange to me!
Hey The Big Island always has snow that is no news. I have known this for years now.
I don’t think the news is THAT it snowed …. but how MUCH it snowed.
you are correct sir.
maybe the equators in for a shocker
That is just not right
I think the mountaintops in Hawaii get several snowstorms each winter. I’ve seen pictures of people in their shorts coming from the tropical lower elevations up to the top to play in the snow. It would be pretty cool to go surfing and play in the snow both in the same day!
As stated above its not that it snowed its more with how much it snowed but it does snow there ever year!
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/ASK/hawaii-snow.html
SlimJim
Good Day,
At 13,796 feet, I would expect snow too! Hehe…
Steelie
Get ready for more snow and cold for West Michigan!!!! INDYYY
I’m not buying it anymore Indy. I’ve moved on to T-storms now
We will be coming back to GR later today. There is still around 2″ of snow on the ground here just south of Linwood (Bay City area) yesterday it was generally sunny here with a cold wind. Its kind of funny but there are people fishing in boats on the Saginaw River I can say I have never seen that before in February. Last night one of the local TV forecasters claimed the winter (so far) snow fall total was around 17″ not sure if that was Saginaw, Flint or Bay City. Either way I thought the snow fall total over here was more like 25″ my wife thought that maybe he did not include the November snow fall over here! Well as I said its off to visit the in laws to day and then heading back to GR later.
SlimJim
Friday Saturday few days out and thoughts could change but be ready cold and snow look to be coming …..Be ready guys!!!! Stay tuned!! INDYY
Here comes the southeast ridge the first week of march and I’m down here in Florida and probably bake when I’m here during March. Both GFS and euro models show the ridge coming after this cool/cold spell from this Friday through early parts of next week. Here is the map http://www.meteo.psu.edu/~gadomski/ECMWF_0z/hgtcomp.html and enjoy your sunny day up there spring is around the corner.
Good Day,
Indeed. And the CPC has been rather consistent in its above average temps in the one and three month periods:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Steelie
But weren’t they also saying we had quite the winter coming, starting in mid-November??
I saw that, Indy! Snow, cold and Winter are on the way BACK!
Winter is done according to these teleconnections pretty darn soon and it looks like a pattern we had back in December. Alot of people down here hotel is full capacity and probably stay this way through march. Take care.
Oops forget to put them on here is the graph. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/daily_ao_index/teleconnections.shtml
Good Day,
Agreed. After this coming weekend we might be turning the corner toward Spring.
Steelie
Don’t know if we will get much snow. When the snow has fallen, it is usually gone in a day or two. Also, its beginning to look and feel like Spring!
The arctic air intrusions have not been allowed to stay for very long!
This arctic air that is supposed to be here by this weekend, will have a huge battle to stay around too! That said, I’m not quite ready to say good bye to our Winter that really never was, you know what I mean? I think Mother Nature has something in store for us by way of a snow storm in March. We will have to see about that. Thanks for your posts, kevin w! What is the weather like where you are? 80 degrees and sunny?
Time to get the BIG DADDY hat out for Friday and Saturday SNOW STORM IS COMING!! Spring is on hold for West Michigan!! Dan is ready Kevin w is ready Bills bloggers are ready let ut snow let it snow let it snow ..Stay tuned INDYYY…
I need some snow. I haven’t made any snowballs to freeze for summer throwing and I’m starting to get nervous.
Steelhead are running. Early for them this year.
Good Day,
Indeed! By all accounts this has been a tremendous “Winter” run on the Grand…. Plus, the trout will not have been overly stressed by cold temps and we should see a great Spring for fly fishing! Hehe…
Steelie
You know you’ve been blessed with an awesome winter when Hawaii is getting more snow than we have had!
The birds have been out in full force around here the past week. I have heard a lot of geese flying overhead too. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad that this “winter” is about over already.
Good Day,
I have noticed that it appears birds are coming back from their Winter homes. I have seen several robbins the past few days.
Steelie
yeaaa tracking snow to west will be rolling in late tonight 2-5 inches with some 6 inch snows north with west winds will blowing in cold air sure could get verry slick outside for the ride to work in the morning !!!! Stay tuned!! INDYY
Good Day,
Indeed, to our North and West as in Minnesota and the U.P…
J/K.
Steelie
We’ll have a sub 990 mb low tracking just to our east this week….yet not much snow or cold air to work with. Any other year, that could spell a major storm.
A lot of WINTER weather is about ready to hit West MI. Below average temps with above average snowfall on the way! It starts this weekend and lasts at least the next 10 days! Ger ready for the COLD and SNOW! Winter is FAR form over!!
Do you have a sore hand yet from typing the same thing over and over since November? Sorry to break it to ya, but we have had a WARM and NO SNOW winter. One more cool down this weekend, then Spring is here! Even the time change is only about 2 weeks away now.
HAY BARRY IN Z land BIG snows coming u better get your shovel out!! INDYY
Bill are u tracking the storm tonight???? INDYYY
Nothing to track tonight Indy just wait for the storm on the 27th its still looking good.
Yeaaaa that is looking good I am watching the temps fall as we have some rain moving east we should see some snow later tonight …INDYY
Seems a bit “snowy” through the next 6-10 days. Unfortunately, it might start to look like winter around here by next week.
WOW. Looks like the menehunes are gonna be kept busy digging out of that!!
GET READY FOR SNOW WEST MICHIGAN………INDYYY
Bought a new charcoal grill yesterday. Put it in the shed tonite just in case we get precipitation at the YARDofWEEDS.