The access road to the summit of Mauna Kea remains closed to the public today due to unsafe road conditions, officials said.

This week’s severe storm with 100 mph winds, sleet, freezing rain and snow at the summit “created a very hard covering of ice and icy snow along snow drifts on Maunakea Access Road,” the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Center for Maunakea Stewardship said in a news release today.

Crews are working as quickly as possible to reopen the road above the visitor station, officials said.

“Our top priority is keeping the public and our employees safe while on Maunakea,” said executive director Greg Chun. “We understand many are eager to head up to enjoy the wintry weather, however, until road conditions are safe and full access of the road is restored we humbly ask for everyone’s kokua and patience.”

A combination of freezing sleet and snow congealed into a hard mass up to 10 feet thick in certain places, according to Stewart Hunter, general manager of Maunakea Shared Services.

As crews work their way to the top of the summit to clear the access road, progress may be faster in some areas and slower in others, Hunter said.

The access road is about 8 miles long. The first five miles are unpaved with steep inclines, poor traction and blind curves.