It’s official! A blanket of Snow at Haleakala on Maui!

(Update 4:30 p.m. Jan. 19, 2011)

By Wendy Osher

Photo Courtesy Haleakala National Park. 1/19/11.

Photo Courtesy, Haleakala National Park. 1/19/11.

The winter storm warning for the summit of Haleakala has been canceled. At 3:45 p.m. workers at the site told MauiNOW that the snow was almost all melted, visibility above 8500 ft was less than 10 feet, and temperatures were down in the mid 30s.

The Flash Flood Watch for Maui and the Big Island has also been canceled. Locally heavy rain remains a possibility for the Big Island tonight, but widespread flash flooding is no longer likely.

(Update: 1:40 p.m. Jan. 19, 2011)

By Wendy Osher

Snow along Crater Road to Haleakala. Photo courtesy Dennis Kamana'o Galloway and Lisa Galloway.

Snow at Haleakala Summit 1/19/11. Photo courtesy Dennis Kamana'o Galloway and Lisa Galloway.

As of 1:30 p.m., all roads were open to the summit of Haleakala, but much of the snow that was present this morning, has since melted away.  Park officials say there was still a layer of ice present at the summit area about an hour ago.  There was also a morning surge in visitors to the site this morning when access was limited because of the icy road conditions.

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(Update: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011)

By Wendy Osher

The upper slopes of Haleakala remain under a winter weather warning.  The primary threat, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service, is freezing rain and icing which will make travel to the summit of Haleakala very dangerous. This wintry mix of precipitation is expected to continue through most of the day Wednesday.  The road was closed at last report in the headquarter area about 10 miles below the summit.

We weren’t able to access the Haleakala web cams this morning to provide you with live imagery from the location however, we are providing you with the link if and when the cameras resume operation.

(Update 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011)

By Wendy Osher

Haleakala snow. 8 a.m. Wed. Jan. 19 2010 by Wendy Osher.

Snow on Haleakala. 7:10 a.m. Wed. Jan. 19, 2011. By Wendy Osher.

Haleakala snow. 8:10 a.m. Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 by Wendy Osher.

Snow on Haleakala 7:10 a.m. Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 by Wendy Osher. Click image to enlarge.

It’s official! There is a blanket of snow atop the summit area of Haleakala.  Park officials report black ice conditions on the roadway near the summit.  The park is open to visitors as of 7 a.m., but traffic is being stopped at the headquarter area about 10 miles below the summit, because of the dangerous road conditions.

(Update 4 a.m. Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011)

By Wendy Osher

Wintry weather is expected at Haleakala National Park above the 6,000 foot elevation through this afternoon. Freezing rain and icing of roads are expected, making travel to the summit very dangerous, or impassible.

Haleakala Visitor Center, file photo by Wendy Osher.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the summits of Haleakala on Maui, and Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island. Forecasters say significant snowfall is expected by this afternoon, especially over the Big Island summits.

Both Maui and the Big Island are also under a flash flood watch today as a cold low moves over the eastern portion of the state. The threat of flooding from heavy showers and thunderstorms remains through this afternoon.

The system is expected to move southward over Maui throughout the day, with the flood threat diminishing by tonight.

(Supporting information courtesy National Weather Service)