URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
342 PM HST WED JAN 12 2011

…DANGEROUS WINTER STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE SUMMITS OF MAUNA KEA AND MAUNA LOA TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY…

.DEEP MOISTURE AND UNSTABLE AIR AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WILL BRING HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS TO THE SUMMITS ABOVE 11,000 FEET. STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW…CREATING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

BIG ISLAND SUMMITS-
INCLUDING…MAUNA LOA AND MAUNA KEA ABOVE 8,000 FEET
342 PM HST WED JAN 12 2011

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THURSDAY…

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THURSDAY.

NEW SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY LATE THURSDAY OVER THE BIG ISLAND SUMMITS ABOVE 11,000 FEET. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 50 MPH WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AT THE SUMMITS. HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

HIKERS AND CAMPERS SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER POSTPONING ANY TRIPS TO THE SUMMIT UNTIL AFTER THE INCLEMENT WEATHER PASSES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW… SLEET…AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.