Parts of Hawaii are bracing for a blizzard that could bury its highest points in as many as 10 inches of snow — a storm that would outpace the total snow accumulation in the city of Chicago for 2017.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the city did not record any snow accumulation in January and February for the the first time in 146 years. The city did see a trace amount of snow on Feb. 25 and Jan, 30, but melted before accumulation could be measured.
But on Wednesday evening, Hawaii’s Big Island will take the Windy City’s place. The National Weather Service is expecting temperatures in the 30s at the peaks of the state’s two tallest peaks: Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Winds could reach up to 65 mph with possible instances of thundersnow.
It’s not uncommon for snow to fall on the peaks of the nearly 14,000 feet high mountains. In December, more than a foot of snow topped the peaks while the rest of the state experienced heavy rains.
But those not on the mountain shouldn’t fret. Other parts of the state will experience temperatures in the 60s overnight on Wednesday.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
