Blizzard warnings in effect for parts of Hawaii as potent storm wallops islands

AccuWeather ^ | Dec. 3, 2021 10:29 AM AST | By Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist

[jerod]

A potent storm has begun to wallop the Hawaiian Islands with gusty winds and widespread flooding rain, with blizzard conditions expected at some higher elevations, AccuWeather forecasters say.

Much of the 50th state has been abnormally dry recently, with parts of Hawaii in severe to extreme drought. Needed rain began on Friday, but it may be too much of a good thing.

Due to the threat of excessive rainfall, flood watches have been issued for all of the islands and are expected to remain in place through Monday afternoon.

Drought that has been developing over Hawaii became more intense after a very dry November. Honolulu, which averages 2.25 inches of rain in November, picked up just a mere 0.09 of an inch.

Hilo, located on the Big Island, received just under 6 inches of rain last month, but the city typically gets over 14 inches of rain in November...

...After the cold front passes through much of the island chain, the threat of snow will occur over the highest peaks, some of which are more than 10,000 feet high.

Blizzard warnings have been issued for the summits of the Big Island, and wind gusts up to 100 mph will be possible, according to the warning statement from the NWS. Some locations could receive up to a foot of snow. The most recent time blizzard warnings were issued for Hawaii was in the spring of 2018.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility," the NWS warned.

[jerod]

Snow in Hawaii??? Global Warming... Pardon me... Climate Change.

[dfwgator]

But will there be snow in Africa this Christmas time?

[jerod]

On top of Mount Kilimanjaro there is always snow... And that is despite Al Gore's warning in 2006 that it would be gone in 2016.

[BiglyCommentary]

Haleakala is 10,000 ft, as high as many Rockies peaks.

[Pollard]

After the cold front passes through much of the island chain, the threat of snow will occur over the highest peaks, some of which are more than 10,000 feet high.

Blizzards are not totally uncommon in Hawaii. In fact, prior to this week, the NWS had issued blizzard warnings for parts of Hawaii more recently than for much of the East Coast, including cities such as Philadelphia and New York.

Sounds like it only happens at high elevations. I never knew Hawaii had snow at all.

[jerod]

Mount Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet high... I guess that’s why there is still snow there.

[dfwgator]

On top of Mount Kilimanjaro there is always snow

On both peaks?

[EEGator]

I’ve been to the top of Mauna Kea which is over 13,000ft.

[GaltAdonis]

[jerod]

Check it out on the live cam... The snow is still there.
https://www.zaratours.com/zara-tours-livecam/

[dfwgator]

On top of Mount Kilimanjaro there is always snow

You might want to alert Bob Geldof of this.

[waterhill]

Leo Windhorse lives on Mauna

[Leaning Right]

> Snow in Hawaii??? <

It’s man-made Global Cooling, I tell ya. Somebody alert Greta Thunberg. We must allocate billions of dollars to combat this new threat to Mother Earth!

[jerod]

Yup... All peaks.

[Dacula]

Why are you sending a picture of Stacey Abrams? :)

[jerod]

[DallasGal]

Mauna Kea is 13,796 ft you can ski and snowboard down. Mauna Loa is not as tall, but gets snow as well.

[dfwgator]

I thought it was Chris Christie.

[EEGator]

I think he’s in Kona-Kailua...

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

End Times.