There was shock in Hawaii this week as now fell on the state’s tallest peak, turning the mountain top into a winter wonderland.

The summit area of Mauna Kea on the Big Island got about two inches (five centimeters) of the white powder.

Hawaii is better known to many for its warm weather, beaches and rainforests. But it’s not unusual for snow to fall at the higher elevations on Mauna Kea during the wetter, winter months.

The summit is so high — it sits 13,803 feet (4,207 meters) above sea level — that temperatures there can drop below freezing year-round, creating the potential for snow during any month.

This week, an upper level disturbance brought colder temperatures as moisture came in from the east and moved over the islands on Sunday through to Monday, said Maureen Ballard, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

“Combination of cold temperatures and moisture equals snow when it’s below freezing,” Ballard said.

Webcams mounted on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope showed the ground covered in white shortly after sunrise on Monday. Two days later, the cameras showed the snow was gone.

Nobody lives on Mauna Kea’s summit, which is sacred to many of the Native Hawaiians. Centuries-old stories say Mauna Kea is the first-born son of the sky father and earth mother.

The limited light pollution and dry atmosphere at the mountain top also make it one of the world’s best places to observe the night sky and stars. Astronomers have built about a dozen telescopes at the summit, leading to Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and some of the first images of planets outside our solar system.

Meanwhile, this week, Mount Fuji in Japan is yet to see any snow on its slopes this year, with forecasters saying its a record.

The active volcano just west of Tokyo is the country’s highest peak at 3,776m and usually sees its first snow of the year in early October.

Since records began 130 years ago, this is the latest date in the year the mountain has gone without snow. The volcano last erupted about 300 years ago.

Any place, including Hawaii, can become a winter wonderland with the right amount of snow. 

The Aloha State experienced likely its first snowfall of the season on Monday after a winter storm rolled in, coating a summit in glistening white snow. 

The arrival of snow in the region is not uncommon, especially in higher elevations between 9,000 and 10,000 feet, Alan Reppert, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather shared with USA TODAY on Tuesday. 

Nevertheless, the snowfall gave Americans a sneak peak of what could be coming to their neck of the woods over the next few months.

Video shows first snowfall of the season in Hawaii

Derek Petrowski witnessed the snowfall firsthand earlier in the week, taking a short video to document the appearance of snow on Mauna Kea, the highest peak on the island.

Mountain ranges as well as volcanic peaks in the surrounding area are most affected by winter weather during the wet season, which typically runs from October through April. Most severe weather and blizzard warnings are commonly issued within that timeframe. 

“Most of the snow that happens in Hawaii is over (8,000-9,000 feet) … They can even see some snow in the highest peaks in Hawaii during the middle of the summer as well,”  Reppert said. “It’s something that happens there.” 

Residents and tourists are lucky enough reap the benefits of the Big Island’s good weather through the wet season because they are not close enough to see or experience the snow. 

The only evidence of snow in the area, other than the video and pictures taken by residents, may be a slight breeze or an increased risk of showers.

Mauna Kea stands at a height of 13,803 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 

According to Newsweek, the National Weather Service meteorologists issued a winter weather advisory ahead of the snowfall since “deep moisture” was expected to move over the area through Monday, leading to “periods of rain and snow on the high summits.” The winter storm brought heavy snow to higher elevations and heavy rain to areas in lower elevations until Tuesday morning, Newsweek reported. 

The last time a winter weather advisory was issued for the volcano was May 11 NWS meteorologist Derek Wroe told Newsweek before the weekend winter storm.