Posted on 12/03/2021 12:46:12 PM PST by BAW
That headline is correct, there is a blizzard warning out for parts of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Of course, most visitors to the park on the Big Island won't have to bundle up unless they're planning to scale Mauna Loa, and that's not being advised.
According to the National Weather Service, Mauna Loa's summits can experience winds of 100 mph this weekend along with 12 or more inches of snow.
"Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility," the agency said. "The strong winds will likely cause significant drifting of snow."
At the park, officials said the Mauna Loa summit was closed due to thunderstorms and high winds, and that backcountry permits will not be issued at this time for the Mauna Loa Cabin.
Down lower near park headquarters, the forecast calls for heavy rains into next week with daytime highs in the mid-60s.
It is COLD on top of those volcanoes!........................
The tops of Hawaiian volcanoes, despite being near the equator with no appreciable ‘winter’, can get snow at any time. Its weird, yes, but you can freeze your butt off after driving to the peaks thinking its going to be like down by the beach.
And here in Minneapolis-St Paul today, it’s actually 46 degrees!
It won’t last - but I’ll take it!
We are in a seriously weird weather cycle for awhile. No snow where there normally has been and snow where it needs not be. Flooding in northwest. Strange decade of weird weather.
The Big Island of Hawaii’s two dormant volcanoes are both over 13000’ in elevation.
I was there in April 2019. We drove up to where the visitors center is in our Mustang convertible rental car. The road was closed above 7000’ because there was ice on the road.
The week after it was back open again, but they were only allowing four wheel drive vehicles to go to the top.
The week we were there only had one day where you could actually see the top where all the observatories are.
You don’t see this everyday.
Been to the top of Mauna Loa a few times, it’s 98* at the beach and 15* at the top. And the wind can be crazy. A spring jacket doesn’t cut it.
Years ago, we took the tram out of Palm Springs, California to the nearby mountain top. Same feeling even with a dry high desert cold.
Meanwhile, reports of hail, not sleet or graupel, in New York State yesterday.
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17 January 2018 and yes, it was snow on the Big Island Volcanos.
This would never happened if everyone JUST GOT VACCINATED
I just got a text from a buddy of mine that is Director of Maintenance for a Helicopter tour company in Kona, HI.
Huge rain going on there right now. He said very cold and windy. His video showed ceiling at 1000’ solid. Very rare for Hawaii.
76° and light rain, light wind right now.
No, but you see it every year, or at least most years. It's really nothing new. :)
We rode the train from Durango (4500’) to Silverton 10,000’) in late September one year (ok, it was 2000).
Warm and sunny in Durango, blowing and snowing in Silverton. I came prepared, knowing what can happen at high elevations. My wife was chiding me about the bag full of winter clothing at first, but she was grateful I brought it.
There were people in tank tops and flip flops on the train - weren’t they shocked!
Unusual weather they’re having. 🦁 Maybe they could use some of that petroleum water in Pearl Harbor as fuel to keep warm.
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