PHOTO COURTESY OF MAUNA KEA VISITOR INFORMATION STATION The summit of Mauna Kea received a few inches of new snow yesterday. Spring snow typically is light, not more than a few inches, and usually only lasts a few days. Shown in the picture is the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope.

Snow dusts the summit
of Mauna Kea

About 2 inches covers roughly
75 percent of the volcano's top

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Star-Bulletin staff

Up to 2 inches of snow fell atop Hawaii's tallest volcano over the weekend, according to David Byrne, manager of the Mauna Kea Visitors Station, at the 9,300-foot level.

Byrne estimated about 75 percent of the summit, 13,796 feet above sea level, was covered with snow. However, it is not uncommon for Mauna Kea to receive snow every month of the year.

During the spring and summer months, snow is minimal and usually melts on the same day it falls, whereas snow in the winter months tends to have a higher inch count, Byrne said.

"The snow that came down today is mostly gone," he said yesterday.

Web camera images of summit snow on Mauna Kea attract skiers and snowboarders looking for some fun.

"It takes some interpretation," said Byrne of the snow images.

"There is not enough snow to go skiing or snowboarding. ... If they do come, they generally take a look at that and say no," he said.