Much of the U.S. is under early wintry weather conditions. Northern New England, parts of Pennsylvania and of Ohio are are receiving early season snow and ice. An “Atmospheric River” is  a bringing steady stream of rainfall to the Northwestern US. A Flood Watch is in effect for coastal Oregon and Washington State. 

But cheer up! It could be worse, you could be in Hawaii.  (Anyone who lives in Hawaii already knows what I am talking about.) “Winter wonderland” isn’t a term often associated with Hawaii, but that’s exactly how one meteorologist described the Aloha State on Thursday.

However, it is not uncommon for snow to fall on Hawaii’s volcanic peaks given their altitude, and evenblizzard 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.

“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 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.

You can read more in an article by Anna Skinner in the Newsweek web site at: https://www.newsweek.com/photos-hawaii-snow-temperatures-plunge-1848774.