Still cold: temps dip into 50's around state

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Temperatures dipped into record cold (for here) territory yet again Monday around the state, as a mass of unusually chilly air remained over the islands.

Meanwhile, the road to the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island remained closed due to snow and ice remaining from the vigorous cold front that blew through the state Friday night and Saturday.

The National Weather Service said the temperature cooled down to 57 degrees at Honolulu and Lihue airports Monday morning. Kalaeloa and Molokai airports recorded a low of 55. It got down to 58 at  Kahului and 60 in Hilo, with Kona Airport with an overnight low of 63 degrees. Those temperatures are not yet official, but most either break or tie records for January 5.

Several of Sunday's low temperatures tied or broke records. The low of 54 in Lihue broke the record of 59 set in 2005. Honolulu's 58 tied the record from 1979. Kahului's 54 degrees broke the previous record of 55 set in 1971, while the 59 degree temperature at Hilo broke the old record of 60 set in 1999.

The Mauna Kea Weather Center said crews were trying to clear thick snow and ice on the road to the summit of the 13,796-foot mountain. The summit temperature shortly before 1 p.m. Monday was 36 degrees with a wind chill of 24 degrees. The high wind warning and wind advisory that had been posted for the summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa were allowed to expire, but winds are still blowing at 25 to 30 miles per hour at the summit of Mauna Kea.

Rangers said the road to the Mauna Kea summit will remain closed through the day, unless it gets warm enough to melt the icy roadways.

Monday night's temperatures are expected to be a few degrees warmer. But keep the extra jacket and blanket handy.