Snow, alternating with freezing rain, and strong wind were expected to continue pummeling Big Island summits into Tuesday morning, but worse wintry weather is due in the evening.

Another 5 to 8 inches of snow and ice are possible Tuesday night through Thursday, and a half-inch of snow and ice accumulation was expected Monday night for the summits above 11,500 feet.

A winter storm watch for Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa (above 11,500 feet) is set to go into effect at 6 p.m. Tuesday, replacing an earlier winter weather advisory, and a high-wind warning will continue through Thursday as a statewide cold spell continues.

The winter storm watch is due to another upper-level trough developing Tuesday, bringing deep layered moisture and a bit more precipitation for Hawaii island, although no threat of flooding, the National Weather Service said.

A storm watch means potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that might disrupt travel, whereas a winter weather advisory means periods of snow, sleet or freezing rain, which will make travel difficult, with slippery roads and limited visibility, the National Weather Service said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Foster said extremely strong wind made it too difficult to determine how much snow had fallen on the summits.

"All the cameras are really iced up and fogged up," he said Monday, adding that icicles were on the cameras. "All the sensors (except one) are frozen over."

Everything was coated in ice, including the roadway, which was closed, Foster said.

The conditions did not meet blizzard conditions, under which visibility drops to less than a quarter-mile for at least three hours.

Monday’s forecast was for up to an inch of snow above 12,500 feet and wind gusting from 45 to 70 mph, with localized gusts of more than 105 mph.

Meanwhile, forecasters said the extra-blanket and sweater weather in the rest of the state is expected to continue through the end of the week.

Except for the Big Island, cool, stable and relatively dry conditions will prevail, the weather service said, with temperatures at night remaining in the 50s and 60s and daytime highs in the 70s for most of the state.

On Oahu a low temperature of 61 degrees Monday tied the record for the date, set in 1989.

North wind and clouds blocking the sun are keeping temperatures low.

Lows Tuesday night will be between 56 and 66 degrees.

Maui will get some rain Wednesday.

The tradewinds are expected to return Thursday night or Friday morning for a typical tradewind-weather weekend.