Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Rare Snowstorm on Hawaii's Mauna Kea

Check out this rare snowstorm on Hawaii's highest mountain, Mauna Kea, at 13796' above sea level, is actually one of the world's tallest mountains -- some 33000' high when measured from its base at the bottom of the ocean. Although it is not unusual to have snow on Mauna Kea near the top. What's rare is having a bonafide snowstorm blanketing a few thousand feet of the mountain top all at once.

Go here for a time lapse of the observatory 4 days ago, 1 day before the storm where everything was dry. And then look at a time lapse 3 days ago, the day of the storm. You can see the first small wave come and then the snow melted quickly, and suddenly you can see a big snowstorm come slamming into the mountain top dumping the snow. And continue watching the time lapse 2 days ago when the storm begins to abate.


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