Hawaii's Big Island getting whipped and soaked by Tropical Storm Lala

Key Points:

• Tropical Storm Lala is impacting Hawaii’s Big Island with heavy rain and winds, expected to strengthen into a hurricane and potentially make landfall—the first in 155 years—prompting a rare hurricane warning.
• Forecasts predict up to 25 inches of rain in higher elevations, raising concerns about life-threatening mudslides, flooding, and dangerous storm surges, especially in mountainous and rural areas where some residents live off the grid.
• Tropical storm force winds could extend 220 miles, affecting islands including Oahu and Kauai by Sunday, with officials urging residents to seek shelter and prepare for destructive flooding and possible wildfires due to dry, windy conditions.
• The Big Island’s southern tip is forecasted to be near the storm’s landfall location, with rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches expected on Maui and lower Big Island elevations, while the island chain faces elevated risks from surf and rip currents.
• Local leaders and experts emphasize the severity of the storm, noting ongoing recovery from March flooding and recalling past devastating hurricanes like Iniki in 1992, underscoring the unpredictability and potential for widespread damage.