Thundersnow Strikes in Hawaii

When you think of Hawaii, I’m sure you typically think of warm waters, white beaches, and an abundance of sunshine, right? Well you can now add thundersnow and images like the one above to that list of thoughts, because it was just reported atop Mauna Kea this past weekend.

How does snow occur in Hawaii?

And yes, thundersnow is totally a thing, and not just a Jim Cantore thing.

Snow is actually not entirely uncommon in Hawaii, especially on the summit of the Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on The Big Island of Hawaii.

The main setup that plays a vital role in Hawaii’s snowfall is the Kona Low. These systems are areas of low pressure aloft that place themselves northwest of the island chain typically between December and March. The name “Kona” comes from the change in wind direction from the windward direction to the leeward, or Kona direction. The Kona Low aids in supplying ample moisture to the region, which is important in creating heavy snowfall events like the one on Sunday.

Wintry conditions with little visibility caused the closure of the road, which takes you from sea level to the summit of the Mauna Kea, 14,000 feet high. Rangers who frequent the summit reported continuous thunder and lightning according to the National Weather Service, and that strong winds and heavy snow accompanied the thundersnow.

This wasn’t Hawaii’s first round of snow and it likely won’t be their last, best of luck to the rangers monitoring conditions atop the summit!