Hurricane Lala has intensified into a Category 1 storm while bearing down on Hawaii’s Big Island, promising heavy downpours and dangerous conditions across the region.
Hurricane Lala has intensified into a Category 1 storm while bearing down on Hawaii’s Big Island, promising heavy downpours and dangerous conditions across the region.
The system began lashing the largest Hawaiian island on Saturday. By midday, its sustained winds had climbed to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), enough to push it beyond tropical storm status and into hurricane territory.
Authorities across the United States have cautioned that the storm could trigger flash flooding and other hazards, urging residents to remain vigilant.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green described the storm as “enormous”. On Friday, while Lala was still classified as a tropical storm, he released a video message emphasising the risks ahead. “Tropical Storm Lala is approaching Hawaii and is forecast to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before nearing Hawaii Island on Saturday,” Green said. “Damaging winds, heavy rain, flash flooding and dangerous surf are possible across the state through the weekend.”
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island, which has not experienced a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years. In an advisory at 15:00 GMT, the centre said, “Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected on the Big Island of Hawaii later today. Tropical storm-force winds are already beginning.”
Forecasters expect between 20.3 and 30.5 centimetres (8 to 12 inches) of rain to fall across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island. The remaining islands are likely to receive 10.2 to 15.2 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) of precipitation. Higher slopes on the Big Island could see up to 63.5 centimetres (25 inches). Such extreme rainfall could lead to mudslides, downed power lines, toppled trees and other dangers.
Local officials have told residents to shelter in place and avoid going outside as the storm approaches. On Friday, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, “I am asking everyone to finish your preparations today. Don’t wait for the weather to deteriorate.”
The last major hurricane to strike Hawaii was Iniki in 1992, which hit Kauai, killed six people and caused billions of dollars in damage. While Pacific hurricanes are common, direct landfalls in Hawaii are rare because the islands are relatively small and surrounded by ocean climate patterns that usually steer storms away.
Saturday’s arrival of Lala coincides with scientific expectations that a powerful El Nino will bring extreme weather to the western United States in the months ahead. El Nino occurs when surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer than usual, creating conditions favourable for more powerful storms.
With hurricane-force winds already beginning on the Big Island, officials are emphasising that now is the time for residents to complete their preparations and remain alert as Lala moves through the region.
