Additional 20-30 inches of snow forecast for Big Island summits

Heavy snow continues to fall atop Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea amid a winter storm warning in effect for the Big Island summits through Saturday afternoon.

National Weather Service forecasters say 20 to 30 inches of additional snow could fall today at the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, above 11,000 feet in elevation.

The Mauna Kea Access Road is currently closed at the Visitor Information Station, which is located at 9,200 feet in elevation, because of snow and ice on the roadway to the summit. At the summit, visibility is less than 1/4 mile at times.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday, the temperature at Mauna Kea’s summit was about 29 degrees. Forecasters expect temperatures to be in the mid-20s to lower-30s throughout the day.