Snow seen on July 17 from Mauna Kea webcam (UKIRT aimed SW)

MAUNA KEA, Hawaii – After heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight, Hawaii Island residents awoke Friday to snow on the summit of Mauna Kea.

A view of the snow-capped summit from below in Waimea, courtesy Visionary Video.

Observatory webcams stationed at the summit captured the snow, which is rare in July but not unheard of. Snow can occur on the summit of the 13,796 foot at any time of the year, although its more common in the winter months.

Snow seen on July 17 from Mauna Kea webcam (UKIRT aimed SW)

The Mauna Kea Access Road is now closed. Rangers posted this message:

The road to the summit of Maunakea is closed to the public at the Visitors Information Station due to icy road conditions at the summit. After road inspection this morning, the ranger reports ice on the upper summit ridge and switchback, the east/ west summit ridge, and the UKIRT-IRTF roads. He also reported mixed rain and snow, fog, there is an inch and a half of frozen snow on the summit and moderate winds. This message will be updated accordingly as conditions change. (Mauna Kea Rangers on july 17, 2015 at 5:55 a.m.)

Snow seen on July 17 from Mauna Kea webcam (Keck 1 aimed NNE)