Maunakea Weather Center

Maunakea Road Conditions
Road Status: Open (4-Wheel Drive Please)
Comments
Monday, March 18, 2024 - 04:53 a.m.


Aloha,

After performing remedial work and grading, the summit access road is re-opened to the public. Vehicular access above the Halepohaku area will be by 4-wheel drive only and no 2-wheel drive vehicles will be allowed past the end of the paved road.

The Maunakea Rangers thank you for your patience and understanding.


The Maunakea Rangers will inspect all vehicles to ensure they are 4WD, free of mud and debris that may fall onto
the road, and that they have at least a half tank of fuel. Please leave all children under 13 years old at home as they have a high risk for high altitude sickness. No pets will be allowed up the summit access road or at the Visitor Information Station. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Mahalo, and have a great day!

The Maunakea Rangers


This announcement is primarily used to inform the public about road closures. Road closures typically occur during winter due to ice or snow on the road and occasionally for high winds. Specific road closure criteria are listed below:

1. Any ice or snow on the road.
2. Winds greater than 55 mph for more than 1 hour and/or gusts greater than 65mph.
3. Visibility less than 50 feet.
4. Any emergent condition that makes the road unsafe for travel.

There are very few road closures from April 1 through November 30, and this message will not be updated during this period unless unusual circumstances develop.

The rest of this website is regularly updated with the summit weather forecast and is a useful source of current Mauna Kea weather conditions.


More Information: Maunakea weather varies widely. A calm sunny day may quickly become treacherous with hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions. Summit winds above 120 mph are not uncommon. Snowstorms have even occurred during the summer months.

When conditions are too dangerous, the Summit Access Road will be closed to the public at the Visitor Information Station to ensure everyone's safety. The road will reopen as soon as the weather and road conditions are safe.

Traffic delays and road closures on the summit access road may also occur due to the use and transport of heavy equipment, slow vehicle movements, deliveries, road maintenance, stalled or abandoned vehicles, hikers and bikers. Remember that dust, fog or snow can reduce visibility and slow traffic. Specific road closure criteria is listed below:

1. Any ice or snow on the road.
2. Winds greater than 55 mph for one hour and/or gusts greater than 65 mph.
3. Visibility less than 50 feet.
4. Any emergent condition that makes the road unsafe for travel.

Visitors to the summit are required to stop at the Visitor Information Station, at an elevation of 9,200 feet to acclimate to the altitude and read about the hazards. All visitors are advised that 4-wheel drive vehicles are required, they should be in good health and at least 13 years of age. For safety reasons, those with medical conditions such as asthma, heart conditions/problems, pregnancy or scuba diving within the last 24 hours, may not be permitted access beyond the Visitor Information Station. Animals, aerial drones, alcoholic beverages and open fires are not allowed. All vehicles attempting access should be clean to prevent the spread of invasive species on the mountain. Muddy vehicles will be turned away. Call 934-4550 for a recorded message about Visitor Information Station programs. If you are coming to the mountain today, please be sure to fuel and service your vehicle before you leave town.

Mahalo for your understanding.

Public road conditions and snow report message: (808) 935-6268

Summit Weather via the CFHT/GEMINI WX Tower and SUBARU

Most Recent Previous 24 hours Options

Mar 18 2024, 21:15 HST Minimum Maximum UTC | HST
Temperature 2.1 oC 0.1 oC @ 03:52 6.0 oC @ 13:30 oC | K | F
Wind Chill -2.5 oC -5.5 oC @ 21:14 0.1 oC @ 17:25 oC | K | F
Relative Humidity 8% 8% @ 21:08 25% @ 07:24
Pressure 617 mb 615 mb @ 04:42 618 mb @ 10:40
Wind speed 12 mph 3 mph @ 12:17 19 mph @ 20:27 mph | Kts | m/s
Wind direction SSE

dir | deg
Precipitation (as of 8 am) 0.00 mm

mm | inches
Fog No



Random Web Cams
CFHT Telescope (Aimed North)

IRTF Front Door (Aimed West)

SMA/MLO Camera (Aimed South)

Check the MKWC Current Obs page for additional weather observations and the MKWC Web Cams page for more mountain cams.

Latest Mountain Warnings and Forecasts
Current MKWC Warning(s) - (Latest Forecast)
None
Current HNL NWS Mountain Bulletin(s) - (Latest Forecast)
Winter Storm Warning/Watch/Advisory
Non-Precipitation Warning

Additional Information
Visiting Maunakea Observatories Information
Road is always closed the morning after a snowfall.
Road is always closed while snow removal equipment is in operation.
Road is closed when the pavement has ice/snow.
Snow removal equipment can only remove snow. Thermal heating is needed to remove the final layer of ice that usually forms under the snow.
Other information for visitors to Maunakea.
Maps