Hurricane Lala bears down on Hawaii’s Big Island as winds, rain lash islands
Hurricane Lala was hours from a possible historic landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, with officials warning that damaging winds, heavy rain and dangerous surf were already spreading across the islands. The storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it closed in on the southern edge of the island chain.
By mid-morning in Hawaii, the center of Lala was about 75 miles south-southeast of South Point, according to the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency. The system had sustained winds of 65 mph at 10 a.m. HST and was expected to make landfall on the Big Island later in the day. The Big Island has not seen a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years.
Gusts already hitting the Big Island
Wind was starting to bite. Forecasters said tropical-storm conditions, including gusts reaching hurricane force, were already affecting the Big Island, especially in higher terrain. The strongest gust reported so far reached 78 mph in Holualoa.
“Strong wind gusts batter the Big Island,” one live update said. Terrain is making the storm’s path erratic. The island’s huge volcanic mountains can disrupt the circulation of a close-in hurricane, and that interaction was expected to continue through the afternoon and evening.
Rain, flooding and surf risks
Emergency officials warned that the threat extended well beyond the wind field near the center. They said localized rainfall could reach 20 inches in parts of the Big Island and Maui, with at least 4 to 6 inches possible across much of the state. Life-threatening flash flooding and landslides were flagged as major concerns.
High surf near 20 feet was also forecast for east-facing and south-facing shores, along with storm surge up to 3 feet. Coastal erosion and beach damage were possible as waves kept pounding exposed areas. Weak buildings could be damaged, and trees could snap or topple, triggering power outages and road closures.
Statewide precautions are already in place
Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation Friday, allowing Hawaii to move faster on response efforts. The National Guard was on standby, and officials across the islands said they had been preparing for the storm. A hurricane warning covered the Big Island, while the rest of Hawaii was under a tropical storm warning.
Officials said the current forecast track had Lala moving west while staying south of the other Hawaiian Islands, but they stressed that hazardous weather could affect all islands Saturday and Sunday. By the latest advisory, the storm had turned northwest and slowed as it began to interact with terrain. The strongest gusts were still coming in. 78 mph in Holualoa.
