Does It Snow in Hawaii?

Q: Does it really snow in Hawaii?

Yes, most winters, but essentially only on the Big Island summits. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa top out at 13,803 and 13,681 feet respectively, high enough that winter storms fall as snow up there. The NWS office in Honolulu issues Winter Storm Warnings for the summits when heavy snow and ice are expected.

Q: Can you visit the snow on Mauna Kea?

Sometimes. The Mauna Kea Access Road above the visitor station closes during and after storms for snow, ice and wind; when it reopens, locals famously drive up to sled and fill truck beds with snow. Check the road status before planning anything, and respect that the summit is a culturally sacred place.

Q: Has it ever snowed at sea level in Hawaii?

No. There is no record of snow at any populated, low elevation in Hawaii. The lowest credible snow reports in strong storms are around the 6,000 to 8,000 foot level on the Big Island and Maui, far above any town.

Q: What counts as measurable snow?

At least 0.1 inch of snowfall accumulating in a day at an official station, which is the National Weather Service convention used throughout this site. Flurries that melt on contact are recorded as a trace and do not count, which is exactly why famous southern "snow days" often do not appear in the record books.

Hawaii has no snow gauge in the national daily network, and no populated elevation has ever recorded measurable snow. But the state absolutely gets snow: the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, above 13,000 feet, are high enough that winter storms coat them most years, and the NWS in Honolulu issues winter storm warnings for the summits when they do.

Measurable snow here is a rare, dated event, and every one on record is below

Dated and sourced

Hawaii's real snow events

Most winters

Snow on the Big Island summits. Mauna Kea (13,803 ft) and Mauna Loa (13,681 ft) sit above the freezing level in winter storms, and accumulations of a foot or more happen in strong events. The National Weather Service office in Honolulu issues Winter Storm Warnings for the Big Island summits when heavy snow is expected; summit access roads close for snow and ice. (NWS Honolulu winter weather products)

Occasionally

Snow on Haleakala. Maui's Haleakala summit (10,023 ft) is high enough for snow in unusually cold storms, though far less often than the taller Big Island volcanoes. Sea-level Hawaii has never recorded snow. (National Park Service, Haleakala)

Deep snow covering a New Orleans street and parked minivan during the January 21, 2025 Gulf Coast snowstorm — New Orleans, January 21, 2025: the Gulf Coast storm that rewrote southern snow records from Texas to Florida. “January 2025 New Orleans snow - Vehicle parked on snowy street” by Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 4.0

Where the snow actually is

Snow above the clouds

No station in NOAA's daily snow network measures Hawaii's summits, so the record there is the National Weather Service in Honolulu issuing Winter Storm Warnings for the Big Island summits most winters, summit webcams going white, and rangers closing the access roads until the ice clears.

Snow-covered mountain slopes under winter cloud — High elevation is its own climate: a summit above 13,000 feet can take snow while beaches 25 miles away sit at 80 degrees. “Winter at Mount Rainier (31961755392)” by Mount Rainier National Park from Ashford, WA, United States, CC BY 2.0

Common questions

Hawaii snow FAQ

Does it really snow in Hawaii?

Can you visit the snow on Mauna Kea?

Has it ever snowed at sea level in Hawaii?

What counts as measurable snow?

Keep exploring

Winter, elsewhere and here

Hawaii winter forecastWill the season ahead run cold or mild? NOAA's outlook plus snowfall normals and live snow depth.Hawaii first frost datesFrost comes weeks before snow. The garden calendar's other deadline, city by city.Live snow depth mapWhat is actually on the ground right now, anywhere in the country.

First snow in nearby states

Event details quote the National Weather Service and NOAA directly; station figures are our derivation from NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily records (measurable = 0.1 inch or more in a day). National picture: first snow dates for every state