7月に雪が降ったというだけで十分奇妙だが、7月のハワイで吹雪になったら、それはびっくり仰天だ。
しかしハワイ島にあるマウナケア山の山頂で7月17日朝、本当に起きた。
激しい雷雨が通過し、氷点下近くまで気温が下がった影響で約4センチの積雪と凍結があったと山頂警備隊から報告された。
気象学者のライアン・ライマン氏は「ウエスト・ハワイ・トゥデイ」に「7月の雪もあり得ることです」と語った。
山頂の夏の平均最高気温は摂氏4度、平均最低温度はマイナス4度になる。
マウナケア気象センターによると、マウナケア山の天候は極めて予測が難しいという。声明では、「穏やかな晴れの日でも急に不安定になります。ハリケーンで暴風雪になることもあります」と警告している。
山頂のウェブカメラが変わりやすい天気の様子を捉えた。2つのタイムラプス動画で見てみよう。
Hawaii In Photos
Wailua Falls(01 of92)
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Mt Haleakala on Maui(02 of92)
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Billabong Pipe Masters(03 of92)
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Kauai(04 of92)
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Surfboards, Maui(05 of92)
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Kalaeloa Harbor, Molokai(06 of92)
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Yoga stretch(07 of92)
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Reef Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa, Hawaii(08 of92)
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The Na Pali Coast, Kauai(09 of92)
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Kauai (10 of92)
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Hawaii sunset(11 of92)
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Makena Beach, Maui(12 of92)
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Humpback whale, Hawaii(13 of92)
(credit:AP)
A bowl of ahi (tuna) poke with limu (seaweed), green onion, chili pepper and shoyu (soy sauce).(14 of92)
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Waialae Country Club, Oahu(15 of92)
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Manini fish in Hanauma Bay(16 of92)
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The Na Pali Coastline, Kauai (17 of92)
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Ahi Poke(18 of92)
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Banzai Pipeline, Oahu(19 of92)
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Hawaiian picnic(20 of92)
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Pearl Harbor(21 of92)
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Ft. DeRussy Beach, Waikiki(22 of92)
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Kailua sun rise(23 of92)
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A food truck in Waimanalo, Oahu(24 of92)
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Barack Obama at the USS Arizona Memorial(25 of92)
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Ahi tuna (26 of92)
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Reef Triggerfish, Hanauma Bay, Oahu(27 of92)
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Wok seared ahi at Merriman's Restaurant, Waimea(28 of92)
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Kauai(29 of92)
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Kilauea Coast(30 of92)
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Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore(31 of92)
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Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki(32 of92)
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Kauai(33 of92)
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Cracked coconuts (34 of92)
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Wild Spinner Dolphins, Maui(35 of92)
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Manini fish, Hanauma Bay(36 of92)
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Coral Reef(37 of92)
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Green sea turtle, Maui(38 of92)
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Surfer in Maui(39 of92)
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Diamond Head, Oahu(40 of92)
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Pearl Harbor(41 of92)
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Na Pali Coast, Kauai(42 of92)
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Kalani Beach, Molokai (43 of92)
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Haleakala crater, Maui(44 of92)
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USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor(45 of92)
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Ka'apoko Tunnel linking Wailua and Hanalei Valleys, Kauai(46 of92)
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Acai bowl(47 of92)
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Peacock Flounder(48 of92)
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Wainapanapa Coastline, Maui(49 of92)
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Kuli'ou'ou Trail, Oahu(50 of92)
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Nualolo Valley, Kauai(51 of92)
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Wetlands and taro fields, Hanalei Valley, Kauai(52 of92)
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Waimea Canyon, Kauai(53 of92)
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Poke with macadamia nuts and limu (seaweed)(54 of92)
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Waimoku Falls, Haleakala National Park, Maui(55 of92)
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Halemaumau trail, Kilauea(56 of92)
Correction: A previous version of this slideshow identified this as a location on Kauai. It is on the Big Island. (credit:Getty Images)
Oahu(57 of92)
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Kuilau Trail, Kauai(58 of92)
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Acai berries(59 of92)
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Akule baitball, Kona, Hawaii(60 of92)
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Hana, Maui(61 of92)
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Waianapanapa state park in Hana, Maui(62 of92)
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Chinatown, Honolulu (63 of92)
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Acai sorbet(64 of92)
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First Lady Michelle Obama & White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard (R), Kualoa Ranch, Oahu(65 of92)
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2011 APEC Summit, Honolulu(66 of92)
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Bamboo forest, Maui(67 of92)
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Pu'u O'o Crater, Big Island(68 of92)
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Yoga (69 of92)
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Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu(70 of92)
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Polynesian dancers(71 of92)
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Kailua Bay, Oahu(72 of92)
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Acai bowl (73 of92)
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Acai bowl(74 of92)
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Hula festival, Big Island(75 of92)
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Kelly Slater competes in the Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu(76 of92)
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Laysan albatross, Kaena Point, Oahu(77 of92)
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Puu Oo crater, Big Island(78 of92)
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Hula dancer, Kauai(79 of92)
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Oahu(80 of92)
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View from Haleakala crater, Maui(81 of92)
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Honolua Bay, Maui(82 of92)
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Lanikai Beach, Oahu(83 of92)
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Honolulu and Waikiki from Diamond Head(84 of92)
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USS Arizona Memorial (85 of92)
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Maui(86 of92)
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Oahu(87 of92)
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Hula dancer(88 of92)
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Molokini Crater, Maui(89 of92)
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Lone house in a Kilauea lava flow, Big Island(90 of92)
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Maui (91 of92)
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Honolulu(92 of92)
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