In this image made from webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. The... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this image made from webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a winter storm warning for the summits of Hawaii's Big... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this image made from webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a winter storm warning for the summits of Hawaii's Big... (Associated Press) In this image made from webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. The... (Associated Press) 
 
 HONOLULU (AP) — The summits of Hawaii's Big Island could get more than two feet of snow, with a winter storm warning in effect through Saturday. 
 
 Yes, it snows in Hawaii, Matthew Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said he had to explain to some surprised out-of-state callers Friday. 
 
 "Typically when we get these snow events, it does get a lot of attention," he said, adding that he explains to curious callers that the snow is falling in a small, remote area where there are mainly telescopes and scientists. "We do have very high mountains here." 
 
 Once they realize the heights of the mountains, snow in the island state makes a little more sense, said Ryan Lyman, forecast meteorologist with the Mauna Kea Weather Center. Mauna Kea is nearly 14,000 feet above sea level. 
 
 The weather service forecasts new accumulations of about a foot of snow Friday night through Saturday. An additional foot is possible Sunday. Temperatures are in the mid-20s to lower-30s. 
 
 That's a significant amount of snowfall, but not uncommon for the summits, meteorologists say. 
 
 Lyman said there has been 30 to 36 inches in recent winters. 
 
 It's enough snow to shut down operations on Mauna Kea, Lyman said. The mountain's access road is expected to remain closed until next week, he said. 
 
 The weather service doesn't keep track of what the record amounts of snowfall are on the summits. Heavy snow is often accompanied by wind, which create drifts that make it difficult to accurately measure snowfall, Lyman said. 
 
 Abundant snow on Mauna Loa's 13,677-foot summit could be seen at sunset Thursday from parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane. 
 
 There was heavy rain in other parts of the state Friday, with a flash flood warning in effect for Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Follow Jennifer Sinco Kelleher at http://www.twitter.com/JenHapa. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jennifer-sinco-kelleher. 

 00:43 Stunning Ice Sculptures Made by Mother Nature Meteorologist Danielle Banks takes a look some beautiful ice sculptures from Ohio that weren't man made. 
 
 At a Glance Heavy snow has blanketed the slopes of Hawaii's peaks. 
 
 Snow, there, is not as unusual as it sounds. It can even happen in summer. Yes, it has snowed in Hawaii in recent days, but don't rush to cancel your vacation if you're looking to escape colder weather. This snow fell over the peaks of the Big Island of Hawaii, including Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. 
 
 Snow began falling last Thursday on the Big Island's volcanic summits and continued over the weekend. That snow prompted officials to close a section of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park above the Red Hill Cabin, including the summit of Mauna Loa Thursday , reported Big Island Now. 
 
 Also shut down was the road up to Mauna Kea at the visitor station, above 9,200 feet, due to fog, heavy snow and icy conditions , according to Hawaii News Now. This gave residents and visitors to the Big Island a relatively rare view of the snow-capped peaks from lower elevations. 
 
 <img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/hawaii-snow-mtnview-1dec16-ap.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/hawaii-snow-mtnview-1dec16-ap.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/hawaii-snow-mtnview-1dec16-ap.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > This photo provided by Grant Matsushige, an Instrumentation Specialist at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, shows the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island covered in snow, as seen from Waimea, Hawaii, on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (Grant Matsushige/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP) (Grant Matsushige/Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP) 
 
 The snow-covered peaks could be seen on satellite imagery Saturday . 
 
 The instigator for the snow late last week was an upper-level area of low pressure, both lowering snow levels just enough over the peaks and slinging deep moisture into the island chain. A separate upper-level system brought more snow to close out the weekend. 
 
 (INTERACTIVE: Hawaii Radar ) 
 
 How Strange Is This? 
 
 According to Ken Rubin , an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii, "It snows here every year, but only at the very summits of our three tallest volcanoes (Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala). 
 
 <img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/hawaii-snow-1dec16-ap.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/hawaii-snow-1dec16-ap.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/hawaii-snow-1dec16-ap.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > In this image made from webcam video provided by Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the CFHT telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island, is covered in snow on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP) (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope via AP) 
 
 "The snow level almost never gets below 9,000 feet in Hawaii during the winter, but since these mountains are taller than 13,600 feet, 13,700 feet and 10,000 feet, respectively, they get dusted with snow a few times a year," he added. "It rarely stays on the ground for more than a few days though." 
 
 In fact, it even snowed atop the summits in late July 2015 . 
 
 (MORE: 10 Shocking Snow Cities ) 
 
 Technically, it is possible to ski in Hawaii, but there are a lot of caveats. 
 
 Mauna Kea Ski Corporation explains that "Mauna Kea is a National Science Reserve and is not maintained as a ski area. Skiing areas may have unmarked and exposed rocks. Adverse weather conditions may arise unexpectedly ... most runs are for intermediate to advanced skiers/snowboarders ... weather permitting." 
 
 In addition, the Hawaii Ski Club cautions potential skiers that "there are no lifts, no grooming, no resort, but a road goes to the summit to serve the dozen or so world-class observatories located at the summit. You must have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to the summit, which serves as your 'lift.'" The club adds that skiers take turns being the driver, picking up the other skiers at the bottom of the runs and ferrying them up to the summit. 
 
 (MORE: 10 Facts About Snow That May Surprise You ) 
 
 "Conditions at the top are extremely variable. Winter temperatures range from 25 to 40 degrees, but wind chill and the high altitude can make it seem much colder. Between April and November the weather is milder, with daytime temperatures varying from 30 to 60 degrees." 
 
 Bottom line, it may be better to "Hang 10" near the beach rather than ski down a Hawaiian mountain. Thankfully, technology is on snowbirds' side: beautiful views of Mauna Kea's peaks can be seen via the Mauna Kea Weather Center's webcams . 
 
 Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been an incurable weather geek since a tornado narrowly missed his childhood home in Wisconsin at age 7. 
 
 MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Deepest Snow in All 50 States
– Saturday is going to be a mighty snowy day in Hawaii—but only at the highest elevations. Weather.com reports that a winter storm warning has been issued for peaks including Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island, which could get up to 30 inches of snow. The National Weather Service warns that conditions will be especially dangerous above 12,000 feet, with strong winds causing drifting snow. Mauna Kea's summit is at almost 14,000 feet. "Typically when we get these snow events, it does get a lot of attention," National Weather Service Matthew Foster tells the AP. "We do have very high mountains here." Meteorologists say there has been around 36 inches of snow at the highest elevations during recent winters, though the weather service doesn't go out and measure it. Weather.com notes that there is a Hawaii Ski Club, which tells would-be Hawaiian skiiers that "there are no lifts, no grooming, no resort, but a road goes to the summit to serve the dozen or so world-class observatories located at the summit. You must have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to the summit." The rest of Hawaii has been told to expect a lot of rain over the weekend. (This hiker almost died in a Hawaiian snowstorm.)