Hawaii Snowstorm Could Extend into Late Hours Sunday Night

Image: PHOTO: Big Island, Hawaii. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Image: PHOTO: Big Island, Hawaii. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)
Jessica Kleinschmidt
by Jessica Kleinschmidt
Last updated: 10:50 AM ET, Sun December 4, 2016

We have been seeing some scary winter weather in the midwest and throughout the nation as of late, but the Island of Hawaii has issued a severe snowstorm warning through the weekend.

"A winter storm warning means significant amounts of snow...sleet...and ice are expected or occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible," the National Weather Service wrote in a warning.

Was the warning accurate? Yes, it was. Not only did snow blanket the peaks of the Big Island of Hawaii, including Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, but there is a recent warning of an additional foot of snow going in to Sunday night.

Weather.com says "that an additional 6 to 12 inches of snow is possible above 11,000 feet through Sunday night, accompanied by south winds from 15 to 30 mph, leading to blowing and drifting snow."

Snow has been falling since late last week which resulted in officials closing a section of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park above the Red Hill Cabin, including the summit of Mauna Loa Thursday, reported Big Island Now.

Snow does occurr on the island, that's not uncommon, however Travel and Leisure says the amount of snow is certainly unusual.

Like mentioned previously, the storm is expected to extend into the late hours of Sunday night which will bring snow, sleet, ice and heavy winds. You are also advised not to stress if you have made travel plans to the Big Island as the storm is not expected to last long.


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Jessica Kleinschmidt

Jessica Kleinschmidt

Jessica Kleinschmidt is a writer/editor from Northern Nevada where she grew up surrounded by sagebrush-covered mountains and...

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