More snow has fallen in Hawaii this season than in New York City, according to data from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Many eastern states saw their first significant snowfall of the season on Thursday, while across the nation, a bomb cyclone battered the Pacific Northwest with heavy snow as well. NWS alerts were in place for numerous states in the central and eastern U.S., and although widespread amounts of snow were reported, New York City saw none of it.
Meanwhile, Hawaii's highest peaks have already recorded snowfall this season.
NWS meteorologists issued a winter weather advisory for the Big Island in late October, when several inches of snow fell at the peak of Mauna Kea. Official NWS records aren't kept at that elevation because there are no observation stations there. Mauna Kea Observatories, a group of astronomical research facilities, maintain the roads and provided a general estimate.
At nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, the Mauna Kea volcano is the tallest peak in Hawaii. It is the world's tallest mountain when measured base to peak, as its base extends nearly 20,000 feet below sea level.
The volcano is so high that it occasionally experiences snowfall during the summer months as well. It is not uncommon to see snow on the mountain's peaks in October. Even blizzard warnings have been issued in Hawaii during the winter months. At times, advanced skiers travel to Hawaii to ski the volcanic slopes, although there are no ski resorts in the state.
No measurable snowfall has fallen so far this year in New York City, NWS meteorologist Ross Dickman told Newsweek.
"Typically, right around Halloween or Veterans Day, we start seeing the first flakes of snow," Dickman said.
Since 1999, the mean date for 1 inch of snow is December 17, though snow can fall in late October as well.
Last season, Central Park didn't see an inch of snow until January 16, and the season before that, the first inch fell on January 7.
"It's still a bit early to see an inch of snow, but we usually do see snowflakes earlier in the season," Dickman said.
Northwest of New York City, winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories were issued by the Binghamton, New York, NWS office on Thursday afternoon.
"Snow, heavy at times under localized bands. Totals will be highly elevation dependent as well. Accumulations of 1 to 4 inches in valley locations with amounts of 6 to 12 inches above 1,500 feet," the warning said. "Totals of 12 to 18 inches possible in the highest elevations."
A seasonal outlook published by the NWS Climate Prediction Center on Thursday estimates that New York City will experience above-averages temperatures this winter, meaning precipitation could come as rain rather than snow.
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