KAILUA-KONA — Winter weather and surf continues to impact the Big Island, Honolulu-based forecasters said Wednesday.
A weak cold front will continue to move through the Hawaiian Islands Wednesday morning spreading showers across the state throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service. Colder temperatures with breezy to windy trade winds will move in behind the front.
A kona low will develop over the state on Thursday with unsettled wet weather forecast to continue through Sunday. Models show the kona low drifting towards the northwest and away from the islands next week with unsettled weather lingering over the island chain through the first half of next week.
With the very cold air aloft associated with the cold front forecast to move over the islands, more wintry weather is forecast for the highest peaks of the Big Island.
Periods of freezing rain and snow are forecast. Three to 5 inches of snow could fall, with ice accumulations over 1/4 inch possible for the Mauna Loa and Maunakea summits above 10,000 feet.
A winter storm warning remains posted until 6 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Mauna Kea Access Road was closed as of 9:40 a.m. Wednesday above the Visitor Information Station “due to strong and gusty winds along with hazardous conditions from damages that happened over the weekend with the extremely high winds.”
“Avoid traveling to the summits during this period as icy roads and low visibilities will produce treacherous driving conditions,” Honolulu-based National Weather Service forecasters said.
Meanwhile, a large north-northeast swell has prompted a high surf warning for north- and east-facing shores of the Big Island through 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the weather service. Wave heights of 18 to 22 feet are expected Wednesday, lowering to 14 to 18 feet on Thursday along east-facing shores.
“A combination of the large northeast swell and fresh to strong onshore winds will likely correspond to overwash along vulnerable coastal sections of the islands around the high tide cycles each day through Friday,” forecasters said Wednesday morning.
Surf along west-facing shores will remain small through the week with mainly small long-period northwest swells expected through Friday. A moderate west-northwest swell will be possible over the weekend that may bring surf up to around advisory levels by Sunday for north- and west-facing shores.
Hawaii County Civil Defense reported Wednesday morning that because of the high surf, county beach parks from Keokea in North Kohala through Laupahoehoe to Richardson Beach Park in Hilo will be closed for the day. The surf has also prompted the closure of Bayfront Highway in Hilo.
Also Wednesday, a single-lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road, also known as Highway 19, remains in effect as Hawaii Electric Light Co. crews work to replace damaged transmission poles and lines downed in the Kalopa area Sunday amid a winter storm.
The lane closure, between mile markers 38 and 39, is necessary for crews to replace 16 damaged transmission poles and lines that were downed by gusty winds and fallen trees. Work is scheduled until at least 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution in the construction area and expect delays of up to 45 minutes.
Civil Defense officials also noted all Honokaa schools are open Wednesday.
