(ABOVE) Mauna Kea Ranger message recorded in the late afternoon of Jan. 2, with webcam video from the summit observatories.

NEWS BRIEF

• The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard warning from 6 pm tonight until 6 pm on Saturday, January 3rd. The winds are sustained in the 80 to 100 mph range with gusts as high as 130 mph, rangers report.
• Hurricane force winds, heavy fog, rain and ice forced the day-long closure of the Mauna Kea access road. The forecast calls for high winds into Tuesday, so the road may be closed until January 6th, rangers say.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reports Mauna Loa Road beyond Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park) & and the tent sites at Nāmakanipaio Campgrounds are closed, due to the high winds.

PRIMARY SOURCE

From the Mauna Kea Rangers:

The road to the summit of Maunakea remains closed at the Visitor Station to the public due to Hurricane force winds, heavy fog, rain and ice on the road. The National Weather Service as also issued a Blizzard warning from 6pm tonight until 6pm Satuday January 3rd.

The winds are sustained in the 80 to 100 mph range with gusts as high as 130 MPH. Hawaii Island summits remain under a high wind warning through Saturday evening. The forecast also calls for high winds into Tuesday. Because of this the summit road above the Visitor Station may remain closed into Tuesday, January 6th. Please check this site before you make the drive to Maunakea as this report will be updated when conditions change.

Happy New Year

The summit road is closed when hazardous conditions occur. Criteria for closing the road are:
1. Sustained winds at 55 mph for an hour or gusts in excess of 65 mph;
2. Any ice or snow on the roadway;
3. Visibility being less than 50 feet;
4. Any other exigent circumstance that would make the road hazardous. Mauna Kea Rangers on Friday, January 02 at 8:21 p.m.

The Big Island summits continue to see wind gusts around 100 mph at the CFHT sensor… With radar and surface data indicating snow likely occurring. The blizzard warning will remain in effect for elevations above 11,000 feet… And the high wind warning will also remain in effect for the lower elevations within the summit zone. National Weather Service special weather statement on Jan. 2 at 9:18 p.m. HST