Mountain summits above 11,000 feet received their first snow of the season Thursday, and more is likely today — along with more heavy rainfall for East Hawaii. ADVERTISING Mountain summits above 11,000 feet received their first snow of the season
Mountain summits above 11,000 feet received their first snow of the season Thursday, and more is likely today — along with more heavy rainfall for East Hawaii.
Rangers on Mauna Kea reported they could not investigate conditions at high elevations because doing so would be too dangerous. The summit temperature there hovered at about 20 degrees at 2 p.m. Thursday, with heavy snowfall and winds gusting up to 35 mph.
A winter storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. today for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa above 8,000 feet, with the National Weather Service in Honolulu predicting 6 to 12 inches of snow.
That will make for “dangerous driving and hiking conditions,” the weather service reported.
Thursday afternoon, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed the summit of Mauna Loa to all day use and overnight camping because of high winds and heavy snow. That snow was visible as low as 10,000 feet, park officials reported.
“Visitors at the park’s Jaggar Museum were treated periodically with views of snow-capped Mauna Loa, a novelty for many who don’t expect snow in Hawaii,” a statement from the National Park Service said.
At lower elevations, rainfall totals swelled as more than 4 inches fell within three hours Thursday morning in the Hilo area, according to the weather service.
Almost the entire state received heavy rainfall at some point Thursday afternoon, with a gale watch and a flash flood watch issued statewide. The weather service said high surf will continue through the weekend.
The National Weather Service reported Hilo International Airport received 4.42 inches of rain in the 24 hours ending at 4:45 p.m. Thursday. Pahoa got 1.71 inches and Mountain View received 5.13 inches, but Kona International Airport got only 0.03 of an inch.
Late Thursday afternoon, Pahoa’s Kua o ka La New Century Public Charter School announced it will be closed today for the safety of students and staff because of inclement weather.
At Ace Hardware in Pahoa, there were times it rained so hard it was tough to see across the parking lot.
“Oh, it’s been coming down torrential most of the day,” said store manager Don Adkins.
But business flow remained about normal as customers tromped in looking “soggy.”
“We’ve been selling a lot in the way of tarps and boots and raincoats,” Adkins said.
He had to go outdoors a couple of times and said “the umbrella doesn’t help much.”
Tom Birchard, a meteorologist with the NWS, said flash flooding will remain a possibility at least through Sunday afternoon, when the weather service advisory issued Thursday is expected to expire.
“Definitely stay away from streams,” Birchard said.
Ed Teixeira, Hawaii County Civil Defense interim administrator, advises people to call if they need sandbags and keep abreast of weather reports.
“I just want to urge our residents to be prepared, be ready,” he said.
Pablo McCloud, who answered the phone Thursday at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center, said the road from the center to the summit was closed because of ice and snow — with heavy snow continuing.
“Right now, at the top, it’s about 4 inches. Even with chains, you can’t get up to the top,” he said.
The center remained open, but visitors who heard on the radio that snow had fallen were disappointed to learn the road to the summit was too dangerous to drive on.
McCloud advises people to check the center’s website for road conditions before traveling.
Birchard said it’s tougher to predict snow than rain because there’s too much room for variation. But, he said, “there is going to be potential for heavy downpours — and snow on the summits.”
“We know the pot’s going to boil. But we don’t know where the bubbles are going to come up,” he said.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
