It felt like a winter feeling in Hawaii when the snow fell overnight on the crests of Haleakala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, while night temperatures dropped in the cool 50s and 60s.
The National Weather Service expects a cold front, which traveled furiously from Kauai to Maui, to weaken on Wednesday as it moves to the island of Hawaii this morning, and then tonight to the east.
Today’s forecast is partly sunny for most islands, with isolated afternoon showers and a high of 72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Lows tonight are expected to drop again in the 50s and 60s – and as low as the 40s for Kula, Maui.
Northwest winds are expected to maintain 15 to 20 km / h today before becoming light and erratic tonight.
On the island of Hawaii, the sky will be partly to mostly cloudy, with scattered showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms tonight.
The winter weather advice for Haleakala and the Big Isle summit was canceled about ten minutes before the expiration of ten hours today after a night of icy drizzle, fog, ice and snow.
Weather officials said ice at the highest altitudes of Haleakala is now melting, and that snow on Big Isle is not falling significantly.
A major surf warning has meanwhile been issued for the north and west shores of Kauai County and Oahu due to a major northwestern swell that is effective until Friday 6 p.m.
Surfing from 20 to 30 feet is expected along the north and west coasts of Niihau and Kauai, and from 20 to 25 feet along the north coast of Oahu. For Oahu’s western shore, the waves are expected to reach 16 to 20 feet.
Weather officials warn that anyone who enters the water in these areas could sustain significant injuries or death.
An advice on high waves was also issued for the north and west banks of Molokai, with waves ranging from 16 to 20 feet and 12 to 15 feet, respectively.
The advice also covers the northern shore of Maui, with waves of 16 to 20 feet, and the western shore of the island of Hawaii, with waves of 6 to 10 feet.
Forecasters expect drier, cooler conditions to build up over the islands today as the remnants of the cold front leave the state tonight. Cool and dry conditions, with light winds, are expected to prevail Friday through the weekend.
Although the temperature felt cold due to the cold front, NWS on Wednesday recorded a record high of 86 degrees for Honolulu, surpassing the previous record of 84 set in 1962.
Overnight lows are expected to decline during the rest of the week in the 50s in some parts of Hawaii.
Another cold front is expected to hit the islands early next week.