VIDEO: Hawaii’s Mauna Kea Summit receives its first snow of the season

MAUNA KEA TOP, Hawaii – This week, a wintry blanket descended on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit as the first snowfall of the season turned the summit into a beautiful winter wonderland.

“Winter is here,” the Maunakea Visitor Information Station announced Sunday, sharing images of snow-covered roads at the Big Island’s highest point.

The first snow of the season covered the Mauna Kea Summit in Hawaii on Monday, October 28, footage shows.

(Maunakea Visitor Information Station)

The FOX Forecast Center said colder temperatures infiltrated Hawaii early in the week, while a higher level weather system brought more moisture as it moved across the islands.

Icy conditions forced the road leading to the Mauna Kea Observatories to be closed for more than a day while crews worked to clear the snow and ice.

The National Weather Service warned of additional snowfall on Monday and predicted accumulations of up to 3 inches.

“Travel can be very difficult,” the NWS emphasized. “Driving snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility.”

Snow is a common sight between October and April in Mauna Kea, showcasing the mountain’s unique climate.

At nearly 13,000 feet, the summit often experiences freezing temperatures and significant snowfall, which is a stark contrast to the tropical climate at lower elevations on the Big Island of Hawaii.