On October 28, Mauna Kea in Hawaii woke up covered by its first layer of snow of the season, with up to 10 cm accumulated on the summit of this emblematic volcano, located about 4,205 meters above sea level.
The weather phenomenon was confirmed by the National Weather Service, which issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the region, warning visitors of dangerous road conditions.
Derek Petrowski, operator at the WM KECK Observatory, documented the unusual panorama on video during his ascent, capturing clearing efforts on the summit routes, which were temporarily closed by ice and snow. The Maunakea Visitor Information Station also warned about the risk to driving due to low temperatures, which reached 0 ° C at the peak.
Snowfall on the lofty peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa is not entirely unusual, although snow storms in October are rare. These are usually associated with a phenomenon known as the “Kona Low”, which allows the entry of humid winds from the southwest.
This phenomenon causes heavy rain and occasional snowfall in the highlands, as happened in January 2020, when a storm left up to 90 cm of snow.
Although a decrease in the intensity of the storms is expected in the coming days with the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Kristy, authorities anticipate rain in the low areas and an increase in humidity on the islands, due to the instability in the climate. .
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