VIDEO: Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit gets first snow of the season

On By Littum

Footage captured by Derek Petrowski shows snow falling on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit as crews cleared the roads around the summit.

MAUNA KEA SUMMIT, Hawaii – A wintry blanket fell over Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit this week as the season’s first snowfall transformed the summit into a stunning winter landscape.

“Winter is here,” the Maunakea Visitor Information Station announced Sunday, sharing photos of snow-covered roads on the Big Island’s highest point.

Copy TextCopy Text The first snow of the season blanketed Hawaii's Mauna Kea summit on Monday, Oct. 28, footage shows.

The first snow of the season blanketed Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit on Monday, Oct. 28, footage shows.

(Maunakea Visitor Information Station)

The FOX Forecast Center said colder temperatures infiltrated Hawaii early in the week, while an upper-level weather system brought increased moisture as it tracked over the islands.

The icy conditions forced the road leading to the Mauna Kea observatories to be closed for over a day while crews worked to clear snow and ice.

The National Weather Service issued an additional snowfall warning Monday, predicting accumulations of up to 3 inches.

“Travel can be very difficult,” the NWS stressed. “Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility.”

Snow is a familiar sight between October and April at Mauna Kea, showing the mountain’s unique climate.

At nearly 14,000 feet, the summit often experiences freezing temperatures and significant snowfall, providing a stark contrast to the tropical climate found at lower elevations on the Big Island of Hawaii.