Snow has fallen on the Big Island summits, covering much of the ground visible this morning on webcams located on Maunakea and Mauna Loa.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued winter storm warning until 6 p.m. Tuesday for those summits. Forecasters call for heavy snow, with accumulations up to 12 inches, and wind gusts up to 45 mph.
The Maunakea Access Road is closed to the public at the Visitor Information Station at the 9,200-foot level elevation.
According to the Maunakea Weather Center website, the temperature is currently around 29 degrees.
NWS forecasters predict that a strong high pressure system northeast of Hawaii and a trough to the southwest will combine to create locally strong southeast winds over Hawaii through the midweek.
Humid air carried by the southeast flow “will keep the Big Island very wet over the next couple of days, with heavy snow over the summits,” the NWS said.
Rainfall is expected to diminish in the second half of the week.
A flood advisory has been issued for Hawaii County until 10:15 a.m., and flash flood watch continues on the Big Island through Tuesday afternoon, as thick clouds moving in from the southeast produce heavy rain, according to the NWS.
The highest threat of flash flooding is in East Hawaii, including the Hilo, Puna and Ka‘u districts.
A high surf advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday for East facing shores of the Big Island.
According to the NWS, strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous.