Like icing on a cake, snow covered the ground surrounding the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea early Wednesday morning, a sunrise photo revealed.
And more snow may have fallen overnight Wednesday.
“Last night they received a dusting up there,” National Weather Service lead forecaster Derek Wroe said Wednesday.
There’s “a chance they could see a little bit of dusting” on Wednesday night as well, although conditions are “not real favorable for snow production,” he said.
The National Weather Service doesn’t keep track of snowfall, and much of what they do is look at webcams, he said.
By late Wednesday afternoon, much of the snow had apparently melted off, judging by Canada-France-Hawaii’s webcams.
Although the forecast for the next few days includes instability and moisture, it will be mostly over Kauai and Oahu. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are possible today and Friday night on those islands, but precipitation is not expected on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
Wroe said there is a chance of snow Friday into Saturday at Mauna Kea’s peaks.
“It’s not uncommon this time of year,” he said. Most snowfall occurs October through spring.
Officials issue brown water advisories
The state Health Department on Wednesday afternoon issued brown water advisories for Waimea Bay on Oahu as well as Hanalei Bay on Kauai due to stormwater runoff entering coastal waters.
On Kauai, health officials also issued brown water advisories for Koloa Landing, Nawiliwili Bay, Wailua Bay, Lydgate Park, and Kealia Beach.
On Wednesday morning, a brown water advisory was issued for Makao Beach in Hauula on Oahu’s windward side.
The public is advised to stay out of stormwater runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools and sewers and the possible presence of pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris.
While not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, the public is advised to stay out if the water is brown, continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow up with a primary care physician with any health concerns.
Updates and maps for statewide water advisories are available at health.hawaii.gov/cwb.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified this photo as a webcam photo. The photo was not taken by a webcam.
