The National Weather Service offices in two states have issued winter storm warnings, cautioning the public about powerful conditions that are predicted to arrive. The hardest hit area is set to be struck by up to destructive wind gusts and heavy snow, making travel "difficult to impossible."
Where 110 MPH Wind Gusts and 18 Inches of Snow Are Expected to Arrive
In the afternoon of March 12, 2026, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Hawaii's Big Island summit areas above 12,000 feet. It described the harrowing conditions that were expected to arrive from the time the warning was issued until 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 14.
According to the government agency's meteorologists, the storm system was expected to bring wind gusts that could reach as high as 110 mph. Additionally, between 12 and 18 inches of snow is expected to accumulate before the warning ends.
While no one lives there permanently, the summits see steady activity from scientists who conduct research and tourists who take guided commercial tours to enjoy the view. In fact, a 2024 report from the University of Hawaii stated that 36,890 visitors reached the summit via one of the tours that year alone. People also regularly travel to the affected summits for the Kamaʻāina Observatory Experience. All of that activity will likely grind to a halt during this storm system due to the severity of the storms, which the warning states will make travel hazardous. See more..

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