Photos show Hawaii covered in snow as temperatures plunge (2024)

"Winter wonderland" isn't a term often associated with Hawaii, but that's exactly how one meteorologist described the Aloha State on Thursday.

Nearly half a foot of snow fell at the Mauna Kea Weather Center on Hawaii Island throughout the day on Thursday. Meteorologists shared photos and videos of the snowfall across social media. The images shocked many people who have never seen snow in a tropical climate before.

However, it is not uncommon for snow to fall on Hawaii's volcanic peaks given their altitude, and even blizzard warnings have been issued in Hawaii during the winter months.

The Mauna Kea Weather Center is based on the Mauna Kea volcano. At nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, the volcano is the tallest peak in Hawaii. It is the world's tallest mountain when measured base to peak, as its base extends nearly 20,000 feet below sea level.

Several photos and videos depicted the volcano's snow-covered peak on Thursday.

"It's snowing in Hawaii? At over 13,000 feet, the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa do get some snow each winter. Today is one of those days. Only researchers reside there," AccuWeather posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday afternoon.

"SNOW IN HAWAII! It's a winter wonderland right now at the summits of the Big Island with 5" of new snow on the ground today along with subfreezing temps!" WINK News meteorologist Matt Devitt posted.

Snow is a common occurrence in the winter months at Hawaii's three tallest volcanoes—Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Haleakala. Mauna Kea occasionally sees snowfall during the summer months as well. However, snow rarely falls anywhere in Hawaii with an elevation below 9,000 feet, even during the winter months, according to a report by World Atlas.

"Snow on the Big Island of Hawaii is not all that unusual," AccuWeather meteorologist Reneé Duff told Newsweek. "Some of the summits of the volcanos on this island tower over 13,000 feet, including Mauna Kea! So, at this elevation, the air can be cold enough during storms for precipitation to fall in the form of snow. The threat for accumulating snow is winding down as the latest storm to move through the region is departing."

The winter weather is expected to continue late into the weekend, according to an update by the Mauna Kea Weather Center on Thursday night.

"Deep widespread moisture and instability will continue to pour into the area, contributing to extensive fog, ice and light/moderate snow for tonight, as well as the development of convection especially along the eastern skies and periods of heavy snowfall at the summit mainly through late this evening," the report said. "While the bulk of the moisture/instability are expected to gradually shift off toward the NE by sunset tomorrow, pockets of moisture/instability will still persist in the area and limit the inversion from restrengthening until late in the weekend."

A moderate-to-high risk for periods of fog, ice and high humidity will persist in the area until Sunday evening.

Lower elevations throughout Hawaii saw high amounts of rain during the same period as a low-pressure system known as the Kona low walloped the state.

"A Kona Low has been hammering Hawaii over the last 24 hours, dropping enormous amounts of rain and even snow on the high peaks," storm chaser Colin McCarthy posted on X. "Mauna Kea has seen a half a foot of snow, and nearly 20 inches of rain fell this morning just southeast of Hilo on the Big Island."