KOTA KINABALU: Dozens of climbers on Mount Kinabalu experienced a rare snow phenomenon around the summit.

       Kinabalu Park deputy director Justinus Guntapid confirmed that climbers and guides experience the "snowing" along their trail from Sayat Sayat (KM7) trail to the summit at about 6.40am Monday (Feb 28).

       "It lasted between two and three minutes during what was seen by witnesses as light rain," he said when contacted.

       He said the "snowing" phenomenon was not the first time as their records showed that it had occurred in 1975 and 1993.

       "There might have been more incidents but it was not recorded as it could have happened during hours when no one was on the summit area," he added.

       In the latest incident, Justinus said the general temperature on the summit area was between 6.9 degrees Celsius (2am) and 12 degrees Celsius (10am).

       "We had 154 climbers and also guides in the area. Many of them witnessed it and recorded the snow," he said.

       He said guides and climbers were taken by surprise when they felt snow coming down on the mountain.

       "It was a sudden and surprising experience for many of them on the mountain," Justinus said, adding that they initially thought it was sleet which had occurred previously.