Tropical Storm Lala was actively whipping and soaking Hawaii’s Big Island early Saturday, carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and moving toward the west-northwest at 13 mph, according to the Globalnews. The storm was located about 140 miles southeast of South Point, Hawaii, and forecasters expect it to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches land.
Tropical Storm Lala Whips Hawaii’s Big Island Ahead of Expected Hurricane Landfall
The National Hurricane Center issued a rare hurricane warning for the Big Island, where a direct hit would mark the first hurricane landfall in 155 years. According to a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist’s research of historical newspaper accounts, the last recorded direct hit was a Category 3 hurricane that struck the northeast corner of the island in 1871. Vanessa Almanza, a weather service meteorologist in Honolulu, stated that the latest forecast places Lala’s strike very close to the southern tip of the Big Island.
Governor Josh Green urged residents to take the weather system seriously, declaring, This is an enormous storm.
Tropical storm-force winds extended outward for as much as 220 miles. Emergency shelters were scheduled to open, and various events across the region were canceled as officials prepared for severe impacts.
Widespread Wind Alerts and Expanding Warnings Across the Island Chain
Weather alerts stretched far beyond the immediate path of the center. In addition to the hurricane warning for the Big Island, a tropical storm warning was put into effect for Maui County—incorporating the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe—as well as for Oahu and Kauai County. Tropical storm conditions were expected to reach Oahu and Kauai by Sunday morning.
Meteorologists noted that storm impacts are felt well outside the immediate center. It doesn’t take landfall to create destruction,
Almanza said. Wind speeds atop mountains and across windward and leeward slopes can reach up to 30 percent higher than near-surface measurements, with even greater gusts possible in elevated areas. State transportation changes accompanied the severe weather preparations; all fixed-route Hele-On buses and Paratransit services were scheduled for cancellation on Saturday and Sunday.
Life-Threatening Rains, Flash Floods, and Vulnerable Communities
Forecasters warned of torrential downpours capable of producing catastrophic environmental hazards. The hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 inches of rainfall across Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, with maximum peak totals reaching up to 25 inches in higher elevations of the Big Island. The broader island chain faces general totals of 4 to 6 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 8 inches.
Officials expressed grave concern over the potential for life-threatening flash flooding, severe mudslides across steep terrain, dangerous storm surges, and hazardous ocean swells generating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Destructive flooding and strong winds capable of sparking wildfires were also identified as major risks.
State Representative Jeanné Kapela traveled from Honolulu to be closer to constituents on the Big Island, voicing specific worry for residents living in remote, rural southern areas where people reside off the grid in unpermitted structures and improvised housing. Kapela advised community members with vulnerable roofs to seek shelter with family or friends immediately. Many parts of Hawaii remain engaged in recovery efforts following severe flooding that occurred this past March.
