Mauna Kea Access Road closed upon winter weather advisory

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The road to the summit of Mauna Kea is closed following a National Weather Service-issued winter weather advisory for Big Island summits until noon.

The road to the summit of Mauna Kea is closed following a National Weather Service-issued winter weather advisory for Big Island summits until noon.

The service forecast 1/2 inch of snow and light ice above the 12,500-foot elevation of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. The advisory also warned of freezing fog and rain and snow.

The Mauna Kea Access Road is closed at the visitor information station and will remain closed until conditions improve, according to the Mauna Kea Weather Center. Visibility is limited to less than a mile.

The service also noted that hiking and driving to the summit will be hazardous and advises postponing travel to the summits until conditions improve. The current temperature is 30.5 degrees with westerly winds of 10 to 20 mph.