Winter storm warnings have been issued to five states across the U.S. by the National Weather Service (NWS), as it warns that up to 35 inches of snow and high winds could hit parts of the country from Tuesday, January 6, lasting until Thursday, January 8, in some cases.

To put it into context, Ahue explained that Maunakea's and Mauna Loa's summits are both near 14,000 feet, comparable to mountain peaks in Colorado and California that also receive snow. In Hawaii, he said,

Watch video showing snow covering Hawaii’s tallest volcano summits after a winter storm brought cold air and moisture

Timelapse video shows snow blanketing Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano, as a Kona Low brought several days of heavy rain to the state and Winter Storm Warnings for summits on the Big Island.