Snowfall on Mauna Kea: Hawaii's Tallest Mountain Sees 2 Inches of Powder

Snowfall on Mauna Kea: Hawaii's Tallest Mountain

This week, Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest peak, experienced a brief winter transformation as approximately 2 inches of snow covered its summit. Situated on the Big Island, Mauna Kea is more commonly associated with its warm weather, stunning beaches, and lush rainforests. However, snowfall at higher elevations is not unusual during the cooler, wetter winter months.

At an elevation of 13,803 feet, Mauna Kea’s summit can see temperatures drop below freezing year-round, making it susceptible to snow throughout the year. A recent upper-level disturbance brought in colder air and moisture from the east, which contributed to the snowfall over the weekend. Maureen Ballard, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, explained that the combination of cold temperatures and moisture creates the conditions necessary for snow when temperatures fall below freezing.

Webcams from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope captured the picturesque snowy landscape shortly after sunrise on Monday, showcasing the stunning transformation. However, by Wednesday, the snow had melted away, leaving no trace of the winter wonderland that had briefly graced the summit.

The summit of Mauna Kea holds deep cultural significance for many Native Hawaiians. It is considered sacred, with ancient stories describing it as the first-born son of the sky father and earth mother. This cultural reverence adds an additional layer of importance to the mountain beyond its natural beauty.

In addition to its cultural and aesthetic value, Mauna Kea’s high altitude, limited light pollution, and dry atmosphere make it one of the best places in the world for astronomical observation. Home to about a dozen telescopes, the summit has been pivotal in groundbreaking discoveries, including Nobel Prize-winning research and some of the first images of planets beyond our solar system.

Snowfall on Mauna Kea: Hawaii's Tallest Mountain Sees 2 Inches of Powder