Does it Snow in Hawaii?
Both Mauna Loa (13,679 feet) and Mauna Kea (13,796 feet) are over 13,000 feet in height and while it never drops below zero degrees on top of the mountains it does get cold enough to snow every year. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Hawaii is 12 degrees which occurred on May 17, 1979 at the weather station located on top of Mauna Kea.
In the Hawaiian language Mauna means "mountain" and Kea means "white" so the Hawaiians called Mauna Kea the White Mountain because of the snow that annually accumulates on the peak.
Technically Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on earth and is thousands of feet taller than Mount Everest. But most of Mauna Kea lies below the ocean so Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on earth above sea level.
The snow levels on top of Mauna Kea are sometimes high enough for people to ski or snowboard. There are no ski lifts or accommodations at the top for skiers but there is a road that goes right to the top.
Skiers generally take a 4 wheel drive vehicle to the top and then switch off as one person drives down the road to pick up those who ski or snowboard down to the end of the snow line.
In addition to snow on the two tallest mountains on Hawaii it will also sometimes snow at the top of Haleakala which is a 10,023 foot high shield volcano mountain that is a National Park located on the island of Maui.
According to University of Hawaii Assistant Professor Ken Rubin there have been rare freak cold storms that have brought snow down to as low as the 3,000 foot level in Hawaii. But the snow at those elevations never accumulates or lasts.
So if someone asks you whether or not it snows in Hawaii the answer is a resounding Yes!
For more see Does it Snow in Las Vegas?
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Published by Joe Dorish
Joe Dorish is a writer who lives in the NYC area. He writes primarily about the things he is passionate about - sports, business, economics, weather and travel. He loves to drive and used to own a Limo company. View profile
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