URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI 339 AM HST WED DEC 24 2014 ...BLIZZARD WARNING FOR THE SUMMITS OF MAUNA KEA AND MAUNA LOA... .A SHARP UPPER TROUGH TO THE WEST OF THE BIG ISLAND WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW DEEP MOISTURE OVER THE SUMMITS TODAY...LEADING TO PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW AND LOW VISIBILITY ON THE HIGH SUMMITS. WINDS HAVE INCREASED RAPIDLY THIS MORNING AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INCREASING TODAY. WHILE SNOW CHANCES WILL DIMINISH LATER TODAY...VERY STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE...POSSIBLY THROUGH TONIGHT. HIZ028-250145- /O.CON.PHFO.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-141225T0400Z/ BIG ISLAND SUMMITS- 339 AM HST WED DEC 24 2014 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS EVENING... A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS EVENING. * LOCATIONS...MAUNA KEA AND MAUNA LOA ABOVE 11500 FEET. * HAZARD TYPES...VERY STRONG WINDS AND BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS. HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...AND POSSIBLE LIGHTNING STRIKES. * ACCUMULATIONS...UP TO 8 INCHES WITH HIGHER DRIFTS. * TIMING...THROUGH WEDNESDAY. * IMPACTS...EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS FOR ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OR HIKE TO THE SUMMITS. * WINDS...SOUTH 45 TO 65 MPH WITH LOCALIZED GUSTS OVER 90 MPH. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 30S. * VISIBILITIES...BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE IN HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:43:54 +0000