(UPDATE) – In a 10 a.m. message, Maunakea rangers said, “after performing remedial work and grading, the summit access road is re-opened to the public. Vehicular access above the Halepohaku area will be by 4-wheel drive only and no 2-wheel drive vehicles will be allowed past the end of the paved road.”
(BIVN) – The road to the summit of Mauna Kea is closed after the top of the mountain received a light dusting of snow overnight.
“The Maunakea Summit Access Road is closed to the public at the Visitor Information Station at an elevation of 9,200 feet, due to the following conditions: Thick fog, poor visibility of less than fifty feet, wet and damp road, potential for icy roadway surface, high humidity, a mixture of snow and rain, dipping temperature, ice and flurries on the summit area,” Maunakea Rangers stated Friday morning. “Therefore, the summit road will remain closed until a morning road inspection has been completed and this message will be updated accordingly.”
“The Kona area of the Big Island had an active evening with heavy showers and thunderstorms, resulting in rainfall totals of up to 1.16 inches recorded at Kona Airport,” the National Weather Service wrote this morning. “Some of the blow-offs spilled over to the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa with a light dusting of snow at the higher elevations. No real change to the reasoning behind the forecast. After the overnight showers and thunderstorms in the Kailua-Kona area, we suspect the weather will get more active especially over the Big Island this afternoon and evening. Thus, we dished out a Flash Flood Watch for the Big Island that is good through 4 pm HST Saturday afternoon.”
by Big Island Video News7:57 am
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STORY SUMMARY
MAUNA KEA, Hawaʻi - Some of the blow-offs from evening thunderstorms spilled over to the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa with a light dusting of snow at the higher elevations.