Heavy Snow Hits Hawaii! | 2022 Hawaii Weather Forecast

Heavy Snow Hits Hawaii! | 2022 Hawaii Weather Forecast

It is winter in Hawaii and some places are expecting very heavy snow. No joke. And while we are by no means complaining, as Hawaii weather in winter generally is cool at night, in the ’60s, even at the beach. So what does this mean for your Hawaii vacation and the best time to visit Hawaii? See what’s going on today, and our tips below.

Twelve inches or more snow is possible this weekend.

Snow started falling yesterday at the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island. You can check the Mauna Kea Weather Center from the University of Hawaii for webcams and more.

The strong and unusual Hawaii weather is as the result of a Kona low which has enveloped the state in moisture being sucked up from south of Hawaii. The Big Island and its volcanic peaks are getting the worst of it, with up to 100 mile-per-hour winds and perhaps a foot or more of snow expected. Rain and flooding are in the forecast too. This magnitude of weather event is something seen only every few years in Hawaii.

A National Weather Service blizzard warning in effect for the Big Island summits is in effect until Sunday morning. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa sit at an elevation of nearly 14,000 feet.

While snow at the volcanoes isn’t that unusual in winter, the quantity expected is. Rain will then be moving from east to west so Maui will be in line to receive the brunt of the weather. Rainfall amounts of 2-3 inches per hour are possible. A flood warning is in effect and the National Weather Service said that rain totals could be 12 inches or more. Better weather is ahead, starting next Thursday.

Between November and April, we do expect rain, although this much snow is unusual.

Showers at sea level are often passing, however, with rain one minute and sun the next. In total, rain averages about 15 percent of the time in those six months.

Overall, temperatures typically range from highs of 85–90 during the summer to 79–83 during the winter. Colder temperatures will be found only at higher altitudes, where, obviously snow is even possible (at the highest points) in winter.

Beat of Hawaii Tip #1: Check NOAA Hawaii radar daily. When we go out during any questionable weather, we always use NOAA’s Hawaii radar. It has just been refreshed as a state-wide mosaic display and is generally reliable and useful in planning our day. 

Beat of Hawaii Tip #2: Also use the NOAA radar to follow the sun. While it may be raining on one shore, the sun is probably shining on another shore.

Beat of Hawaii Tip #3: Consider having an accommodation you won’t mind hanging out in during rain when visiting during times of year that can be intimate. 

Rain here, of course, is considered a blessing, and is what keeps Hawaii beautiful, fills the reservoirs, and provides the rainbows we all love. At Beat of Hawaii’s headquarters here in up-country Kauai, we can get as much as 100 inches of rain annually.

Hawaii weather variations are quite unusual by mainland standards:

Cool, “Ho’oilo” Season

This season is from late summer through mid-spring. September begins with cooler nights which then leads to cooler and shorter days. It’s coolest from about December to March, before gradually returning to warmer conditions. During this season you can expect an average high of 77 during the day and an average low of 62 at night.

Warm, “Kau” Season

From mid-spring until late summer (May to Labor Day), expect longer and hotter days and balmier nights. During this time our average high is 82 degrees and a low of 70 when the sun goes down.

Wet Hawaii weather often comes in two segments

The first is usually in either November or December and the second is sometime between February and April. The most common rainy months are November and March. This year, however, November was dry. When these winter rains arrive, they are typically not geographically specific, and can equally impact all parts of all the islands.

Dry Hawaii weather

Dryer weather prevails the rest of the year, although dry doesn’t exactly mean completely dry. Dry weather here includes passing “mauka” or mountain showers.

These rains, driven by the trade winds, typically cross the higher elevations from the northeast to the southwest of the islands, leaving the south and west sides warmer and dryer. Most of the rain is deposited in the mountains and valleys, turning dry at the coast, which typifies our micro-climatic conditions.

It is often possible to have sun and warmth only a block away from cool and rain. During these “dry” conditions, you can typically escape from any rain by heading to nearby drier areas of the islands.

Trade winds prevail more than 80 percent of the time

Typical Hawaii trades are based on subtropical high-pressure ridges that bring cool winds from the north. They also provide lovely clear conditions, and a cooling effect during otherwise warm periods. Trade winds are also associated with dry weather and mauka rain conditions.

Still or south Kona winds

When the winds stop or blow from the south, which is less than 20 percent of the time, the weather here isn’t optimal. In the winter it will tend to be cold and wet and in the summer, humid. South winds are common during periods of heavy winter rains. In recent years, Kona winds also allow whatever VOG exists to move up from the Big Island.

Other considerations

Beat of Hawaii tip #4. Kauai has more precipitation per year overall and is lush and tropical. That’s why it is called the Garden Island. The Big island’s resort areas are among the driest parts of the state with the most consistent weather. Maui and Oahu feature both drier and wetter parts, with primary visitor destinations located in the drier areas. 

Updated 12/3/21.

 

24 thoughts on “Heavy Snow Hits Hawaii! | 2022 Hawaii Weather Forecast”

  1. It’s not uncommon to see snow on the higher up parts of the mountains on the Big Island, when flying in in the winter months.

  2. Awwwww MAAANNN!!! We had a trip planned for next week for my son’s 21st bday and changed it to New Orleans. So sad that I am going to miss this amazing weather!!!Hope the winds die down long enough for the locals to catch some nice POW~!~

  3. Thanks for this interesting diversion from the usual depressing issues of the day.

    Being only about 30 miles, as the crow flies, from the summit of Mauna Loa I can attest to the likelihood of significant snow accumulation on the peak. It has been raining here nonstop for the past 12 hours with no end in sight. And the temperature has yet to reach 70 degrees today.

    Contrast that to our recent location in the US Southwest where there has been virtually no precipitation all winter and severe drought conditions exist.

    The cause of both extremes is likely the strong La Nina now in effect, the opposite of El Nino.

    2
  4. Hello there. We are planning to spend Thanksgiving 2020 in Oahu. I was hoping you could please give some pointers on when to purchase round trip airfare (obviously not looking for a “deal”, just don’t want to pay more than necessary).

    We would fly out of a CA west coast airport (San Jose, Oakland, SFO or Sacramento) on Sunday November 22, 2020 into HNL, returning Friday, November 27, 2020.

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Richelle.

      Probably safest to book on availability. If you’ll be flying SWA, that’s a ways away since they don’t release tickets as early as other airlines. Guesstimate on pricing for your dates is about $500.

      Aloha.

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