Video Shows Man Throwing Snowball in Hawaii as Volcano Covered in Snow

The primary weekend of meteorological winter opened with a blast as snow blanketed the peaks of Hawaii’s Massive Island.

A video posted Wednesday to Storyful by Derek Petrowski, a telescope operator and assist technician at W.M. Keck Observatory on the Mauna Kea Summit, reveals one particular person throwing a snowball off the inactive volcano. The video additionally reveals employees driving via the thick snow atop the practically 14,000 foot summit.

Newsweek reached out to officers on the W.M. Keck Observatory for remark.

A “Kona low” has hit Hawaii during the last 24 hours, dropping snow on the excessive peaks, together with Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. In accordance with the Nationwide Climate Service (NWS), Mauna Kea has seen a half a foot of snow. The Kona system additionally introduced heavy rain and wind gusts to the decrease elevations. Almost 20 inches of rain fell close to Hilo on the Massive Island.

The Kona low is predicted to weaken Saturday into Sunday, with some lingering moisture and instability bringing the prospect for a couple of temporary downpours, with a thunderstorm potential on the Massive Island.

The Mauna Kea Climate Middle relies on the Mauna Kea volcano, the tallest peak in Hawaii. It’s the world’s tallest mountain when measured base to peak, as its base extends practically 20,000 toes beneath sea degree.

In accordance with the NWS, snow sometimes happens a couple of occasions a 12 months on the peaks. Snow is usually seen between October and April, however a dusting of snow was noticed at Mauna Kea in July 2015. In 2016, roughly 2 toes of snow was recorded on Mauna Kea.

Almost all of Hawaii is dealing with a drought, in accordance with the U.S. federal drought monitor.

The heavy rain and snow on Hawaii’s peaks come practically 4 months after the Maui hearth catastrophe that killed practically 100 folks and destroyed greater than 17,000 acres and greater than 2,000 buildings.

The current wind and rain has resulted in stormwater runoff coming into into coastal waters.

“The general public is suggested to remain out of flood waters and storm water runoff as a consequence of potential overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, useless animals, pathogens, chemical substances, and related flood particles. Not all coastal areas could also be impacted by runoff, nevertheless, if the water is brown keep out. Proceed to apply good private hygiene and follow-up along with your main care doctor when you have any well being issues,” a press release from the Hawaii State Division of Well being earlier this week learn.