Lala is again a tropical storm, sending drenching rain and winds across Hawaii

Key Points:

• Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm after passing near Hawaii without making landfall, but the Big Island experienced hurricane-force gusts and nearly three feet of rainfall, causing rivers to flood and increasing the risk of mudslides.
• Tropical storm conditions spread across Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, with wind speeds on mountains and slopes potentially 30% stronger than surface winds, leading to widespread power outages affecting over 130,000 households and hospitals relying on generators.
• At least one fatality occurred in a car accident on the Big Island, with significant damage including 19 roofs lost and multiple roads impacted; search-and-rescue operations were underway after flash floods swept homes off foundations in coastal communities.
• Lala was expected to regain hurricane strength midweek as it moved westward, with forecasts predicting up to 35 inches of rain in higher-altitude areas like Mauna Kea, threatening landslides and flooding for residents living off the grid.
• Residents prepared for severe conditions by opening shelters, canceling events, and securing livestock, while many stocked up on supplies and braced for power outages, flash floods, and fallen trees amid ongoing recovery from previous floods.