While the citizens of snowy Denver and Boston are waiting for the first flags to fall, the highest number of Hawaii has already been covered in white.
On Tuesday, the Maunuakea Information Station (VEL) shared photos and webcam footage of the snow collected avop the Volcano. All of the Big Island Summits are currently under a winter weather advisory that will remain in place until 5 PM et Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
“CMS [Center for Maunakea Stewardship] The Rangers reported snow and ice at the conference this morning, “vis was described in a Facebook post early Tuesday.” The access road above the Visitor Information station is closed. Winter weather is the forecast for the next few days with limited viewing conditions. “
Yes, it’s officially snowing in Hawaii before Denver this year. Time to live! #cowx pic.twitter.com/pdoy07r97t
– BoulserCAST Weather 🏔️⛈️ (@bOulverceCEST) November 18, 2025
Are we serious? Snow in Hawaii?
Despite its tropical climate, Hawaii’s largest volcanoes – Maunakea and Maunaloa – receive annual snowfall. Maunakea stands about 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) above the subzero elevation range.
Seeing light snow accumulation in the highest elevations of Hawaii in mid-to-late November is not as unusual as you might think. What is unusual, however, is that Boston and Denver are yet to see the flakes pass this season. In fact, this is the first time in recorded history of Denver that even a trace of snow has fallen in the second half of November, local news stations KDVR.
Denver usually sees its lowest snowfall total on October 18, according to the NWS. With no snow on the ground as of Thursday, the 2025 season currently has stonell water for the first recent snow in Denver. If it doesn’t snow on December 10, it will threaten the recent first snow record.
According to the weather station, boston’s first snowfall usually falls on November 29, so its winter season is close but technically so. But Boston’s and Denver’s snow seasons have shifted later due to climate change — something that’s reversing winters across the Northern US
Changing seasons and snowfall
As global temperatures rise, the onset of winter occurs later in the year throughout the northern hemisphere. The length of time has also shortened, falling from 76 to 73 days between 1952 and 2011, according to a study published in 2021.
These changes are already having a significant impact on the snowfall in the northern hemisphere. A recent analysis by the Washington Post Weather Team found that the Northeast’s snowpack has fallen to levels 40% below past averages. Noaa has also recorded significant snow drifts in the west.
In the world of warming, periodic anomalies such as delayed snowfall will become more common in Denver, Boston, and other parts of the northern snow and Hawaiian snow shows and lost flalukes, winter is not as predictable as it used to be.
