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Tropical Storm Lala expected to become hurricane near Hawaii
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Tropical Storm Lala is forecasted to strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday, potentially making the first hurricane landfall there since 1871, with heavy rains and strong winds expected to cause flooding and wildfires.
- A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island, with tropical storm warnings for Maui County, prompting officials to open shelters and cancel events as residents prepare for significant impacts.
- The National Hurricane Center predicts rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the Big Island, with localized amounts up to 25 inches, raising concerns about life-threatening flooding, mudslides, storm surge, and dangerous ocean conditions.
- Officials emphasize the importance of preparedness, especially for vulnerable rural and off-grid communities on the Big Island’s southern end, which is growing in population but may lack adequate infrastructure.
- Although no red flag fire warnings are in place, dry and windy conditions could increase wildfire risks; the storm’s path remains uncertain, with historical precedence showing that hurricanes can shift direction and cause severe damage, as seen with Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
