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COURTESY NASA INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY / UH INSTITUTE FOR ASTRONOMY
Snowdrifts up to 2 feet deep cloaked the summit of Mauna Kea on Thursday. The snow is expected to stick around through next week, but winds might reach up to 60 mph, according to forecasters.
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Hawaii snow enthusiasts might want to enjoy the fluffy stuff Friday on Big Island summits before conditions worsen, a National Weather Service meteorologist predicted.
Mauna Kea rangers reported snowdrifts up to 2 feet at the summit Thursday, the Weather Service said.
The snow that fell Wednesday above the 12,000-foot elevation level remained frozen Thursday since temperatures never went above freezing, according to reports from Mauna Kea.
The snow will continue to blanket the tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa into late next week, but it’s likely high winds will reach warning levels.
"All indications are pointing toward 60-mph winds," National Weather Service meteorologist Ian Morrison said Thursday. "Tomorrow is the best day if you’re planning on seeing snow."
There’s a chance of snow Sunday night and into Monday, but a better chance for late next week, possibly Thursday, he said.
And for folks at lower elevations, don’t put those down comforters in the attic just yet, Morrison advised.
Below-average temperatures will prevail through the weekend and into next week, with highs in the mid- to upper 70s and lows in the low to mid-60s due to an air mass from the north, he said.
On Thursday the high was 76 degrees in Honolulu. The average high this time of year is 81.
The drier air made it feel cooler as well.
