Rare Snow, 191-MPH Wind Hits Hawaii

Feb 11, 2019 @ 2:26pm

Snow-covered trees in the forest at sunset. Beautiful winter landscape.

You may not know it but, at high elevations, snow isn’t uncommon in Hawaii. What is uncommon, though, are 191-MPH wind and snow in Maui.
According to National Weather Service officials, the snow may have fallen at the lowest elevation ever recorded in Hawaii history and several inches fell on East Maui’s Haleakalā volcano.
The storm is part of a system that began to impact the island state Friday.
Sunday afternoon a 191-mph wind gust was recorded on the Big Island’s Mauna Kea peak. Local officials say 150-mph gusts aren’t uncommon in the winter but 191-mph gusts certainly are.
Along with the wind and snow, near 40-foot waves have been reported north of the island.
As of Monday morning, more than 2,400 customers were without power. Wind Advisories were in effect until 6 p.m. local time and, so far, one death has been blamed on the storm.
What’s the most unusual weather you’ve ever encountered? What’s the most severe weather you’ve ever witnessed?