Winter storm warning issued for Haleakala summit; winds to 100 mph forecast for Big Island peaks

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A winter storm warning has been issued for the summit areas of Haleakala on Maui due to expected icy conditions from a swift-moving cold front.

The National Weather Service says the warning is in effect from 8 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday. Forecasters expect ice accumulations of two to three-tenths of an inch, which could make driving conditions hazardous. Winds of 60 miles per hour are also expected.

Additionally, a high wind warning has been issued for Maui and Big Island summits until 6 p.m. Friday. Sustained winds of 80 to 100 mph are expected over Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa summits.

Gusts of near 125 mph are possible for Big Island summits.

On Haleakala, gusts to 70 mph are forecast.

Haleakala National Park announced that the summit district will be closed starting at 3 a.m. Friday until further notice. All sunrise viewing reservations have been canceled.

A park spokesperson said that sunset viewing is strongly discouraged because of the possibility of changing weather conditions. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, high winds were reported at the summit.

On Hawaii Island, the Mauna Kea Weather Center reported that the road to the summit is closed until further notice. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park said the summit of Mauna Loa is closed.

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