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Hawaii expected to get a foot of snow Sunday. Yes, really.

Two feet of snow fell between Thurs. and Sat.
Posted at 10:17 PM, Dec 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-04 00:59:00-05

Just when you thought 2016 couldn’t get weirder, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in the country’s most tropical state — Hawaii.

Some mountaintops on Hawaii’s Big Island have received more than two feet of snow, and are expected to pick up an additional foot on Sunday.

The snow is falling on two of the Big Island’s highest peaks: Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The rain affecting the island is turning to snow at about an elevation of 8,000 feet. Per Storm Shield Meteorologist Jason Meyers, temperatures at highest points on the Big Island could drop to as low as 20 degrees, with wind gusting up to 20 mph.

According to the Weather Channel, it’s not uncommon for Hawaii to pick up snow cover in the winter. However, this current system is unique as the snow is falling about 1,000 lower than it typically does.

Closer to sea level, much of Hawaii is currently under a flash flood watch as rainfall is expected early next week.

 

 

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.