Winter weather closes Mauna Kea Access Road

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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 freezing rain above the 11,000-foot elevation of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. The advisory also warned of fog and light ice on roads.

The Mauna Kea Access Road is closed and will remain closed until conditions improve, according to the Mauna Kea Weather Center. Visibility is limited to about a half-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 29.2 degrees with northeasterly winds of 5 to 10 mph.