VIDEO: Hawaii's Mauna Kea Peak Receives First Snow of the Season

MAUNA KEA SUMMIT, Hawaii — A wintry blanket descended on Hawaii's Mauna Kea summit this week as the season's first snowfall transformed the peak into a stunning winter wonderland.

“Winter is here,” the Maunakea Visitor Information Station announced Sunday, posting images of snow-covered roads at the Big Island’s highest point.

The first snow of the season blanketed Hawaii's Mauna Kea summit on Monday, October 28, footage shows.

(Maunakea Visitor Information Station)

The FOX Forecast Center said colder temperatures entered Hawaii earlier in the week, while an upper-level weather system brought increased humidity as it moved across the islands.

The icy conditions forced the road leading to Mauna Kea Observatories to be closed for over a day as crews worked to clear snow and ice.

The National Weather Service warned of more snowfall Monday, predicting accumulations of up to 3 inches.

“Travel could be very difficult,” the NWS emphasized. “Due to blowing snow, visibility is significantly reduced at times, and there are phases with complete lack of visibility.”

Snow is a familiar sight on Mauna Kea between October and April, reflecting the mountain's unique climate.

The nearly 14,000-foot peak often experiences freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, a stark contrast to the tropical climate at lower elevations on the Big Island of Hawaii.