Let It Snow! Mauna Kea Weather Update

[opihikao]

FYI: Happy Holidays! Snow is on it's way! []

Winter Storm Watch
HIZ028-181400-
/O.NEW.PHFO.WS.A.0002.131219T1000Z-131220T1600Z/
BIG ISLAND SUMMITS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAUNA LOA AND MAUNA KEA ABOVE 8000 FEET
304 PM HST TUE DEC 17 2013

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...BIG ISLAND SUMMITS ABOVE 12000 FEET.

* HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...6 INCHES OR MORE ARE POSSIBLE.

* TIMING...LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS...SNOW SHOWERS AND HEAVIER SNOW SQUALLS COULD LEAD TO
RAPID ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW AT THE SUMMITS ABOVE 12000 FEET. THE
HEAVIER BURSTS OF SNOW COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY GUSTY WINDS AND
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

* WINDS...SOUTHEAST 15 TO 20 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S.

* VISIBILITIES...NEAR ZERO IN HEAVIER SNOW SQUALLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT THE SUMMITS. ANYONE PLANNING
TRAVEL TO THE SUMMITS...INCLUDING HIKERS AND CAMPERS...SHOULD
MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND CONSIDER POSTPONING THEIR TRIP
UNTIL IMPROVED WEATHER RETURNS.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/category/20...cal/Alerts&icast_location=USHI0022

[1voyager1]

I've been watching this one:
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Mauna-Kea/6day/top

I brought my tele gear with me.
I'm antsy to give it a try here.
Bad news is that I have to go to Honolulu on Thu & Fri.
Good news is that I might be able to pick up a medical oxygen cylinder while there.
I'll need one to expend the energy needed to tele ski up there.
And, there probably won't be enough snow to actually lift the skis off the cinders for a while yet.
We'll see.

[TomK]

Well, what's pretty for many is also a bit of a pain for others! Snow clearing for summit workers over Christmas is something they hoped wouldn't be on the schedule, but maybe it will be now - but do agree the summit covered in snow is a wonderful sight and if it happens for Christmas, well, that's extra special! The Mauna Kea Weather Center (MKWC) is hedging its bets right now saying that the heaviest stuff may stay to the east, but we'll see. (twice daily forecast on weekdays available here - http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/forecast/mko/).

The MKWC is also testing an ice sensor which is attached to UKIRT. The idea of this is to detect ice on the summit road quickly to give an indication of icing and potentially dangerous conditions at the summit. It appears to be working well although it's work in progress. The data have just been made public, so perhaps some of you with meteorological interests want to keep an eye on it. The basic output is about halfway down here - http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/road-conditions/ - and the link just below that gives a little more detailed information - http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/road-...ad-obs.cgi - but I just want to emphasis again this is in a testing period, so it'll be interesting to see it in action over the next few days.

[opihikao]

Mele Kalikimaka, Tom! Great info, thank you again. My nephew is working up there until Friday, and says it's freezing cold already.

I hear you about it being bit of a pain. O/T (e kala mai) So beautiful to look at, however...In the 70's my first experience with snow was in New Jersey & New York in the dead of winter. We were going to drive from Wildwood (NJ) back to Manhattan, and was asked, "Do you have chains?" WTH are chains? [?] The experience was a real pain! OMG! This Hawaiian will never drive in snow again. EVER.[:0]

Enjoy your info and updates, Sir. Mahalo.