【2020 Archives】

Thundersnow020 Archives a phenomenon that makes weather geeks everywhere rejoice, struck in an unusual location on Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service, a low pressure system resulted in snowfall with "continuous thunder and lightning" over the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii.

SEE ALSO: The blizzard blanketing the East Coast is a stunning giant in this view from space

The summits were plastered with snow and pounded by strong winds on Sunday, according to webcam footage and social media postings.

While snowfall is not unusual on these mountains -- Mauna Kea is 13,769 feet above sea level -- thundersnow is rare.

Mauna Kea rangers reporting significant snowfall with continuous thunder and lightning over the summits. #thundersnow in Hawaii! #hiwx

— NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) December 18, 2016

Thundersnow is essentially a thunderstorm that occurs when it's cold enough to snow instead of rain, and like summertime thunderstorms, thundersnow also requires the vigorous upward motion of air.

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According to weather.com, such conditions were present on Sunday thanks to what is known as a "Kona Low."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

This weather setup features an upper level low pressure area centered to the west of the Big Island. A surface low pressure area also formed, causing winds to shift out of the typical northeasterly direction to the southwest, which is known locally as the leeward or "Kona" direction.

The low pressure system combined with upper level winds to trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms across the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday.

Via Giphy

Made it to work finally and found a little snow. 😂#maunakea pic.twitter.com/TII1j58715

— Leslie E Shirkey Jr (@ShirkeyJr) December 20, 2016

The Big Island in particular was located in an ideal position to be hit by such heavy precipitation, and the Weather Service had issued winter storm warnings for the summits.

Because of its distance from air pollution sources and low light pollution, Mauna Kea serves as an astronomical observatory, with several world-class telescopes located on the summit.

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