Hawaii hit with 2 feet of snow as weather warning issued

Other areas of the US state have received flash flood warnings

Parts of Hawaii have been hit with more than two feet of snow as a winter weather warning is issued for the US state.

The heaviest accumulations of snow are on two of the island's highest peaks, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which have seen between two and three feet of snowfall in just a few days.

Forecasters said it is usual for the mountains, which have altitudes of around 14,000ft, to see snow in the winter months, however National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Foster told the LA Times that the recent snowfall is “at the higher end of what we’d typically get up there.”

He added that there have been winters in the past in which the mountains got little to no snow, including last year.

Forecast meteorologist with the Mauna Kea Weather Center, Ryan Lyman, said the snowfall is enough to shut down operations on Mauna Kea and the mountain's access road has been closed. It is expected to be re-opened next week.

Abundant snow on Mauna Loa's 13,677-foot summit could be seen from parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, said park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane.

Other parts of the state have been hit by heavy rain, with a flash flood warning in effect for Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. Temperatures are currently in the mid-20s to lower-30s.

The US National Weather Service said the unsettled weather will continue over the next few days due to low pressure and "deep tropical moisture".

Additional reporting by Associated Press