Tropical Storm Lala Kills 1, Leaves Thousands Without Power Across Hawaii

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Two-day rain totals have surpassed 3 feet in some locations. By Emilee Speck, AccuWeather staff writer Published Aug 13, 2026 6:15 PM BST | Updated Aug 16, 2026 7:13 PM BST Copied Before-and-after video captures the difference at Rainbow Falls after Hurricane Lala brought torrential rain to Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaii continues to feel the impacts of Tropical Storm Lala after the storm brushed the Big Island as a hurricane Saturday leaving thousands without power and causing destructive flooding. Lala formed into a tropical storm early Thursday southeast of Hawaii and has continued to gradually strengthen, becoming a Category 1 hurricane early Saturday with sustained winds of 75 mph. As Lala made its closest pass, Hawaii County was under a hurricane warning with hurricane-force winds felt across the Big Island. The last time a hurricane watch or warning was issued for the islands was during Hurricane Douglas in 2020. Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm early Sunday. A view of the rising water levels at the Wainaku Street Bridge in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Taylor Cozloff/Civil Beat via AP) [See the track, impacts and latest AccuWeather forecast on Lala here.] Lala prompted a “Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning from the National Weather Service late Saturday, as a flash flood emergency unfolded on Hawaii Island. County Mayor Kimo Alameda confirmed several homes were swept off their foundations, prompting a search and rescue effort. At least one person was killed in a storm-related crash, according to Gov. Josh Green. Photos: Hurricane Lala in Hawaii More than 30 inches of rain inundates Big Island as outages spread across Hawaii A vehicle approaches a downed utility pole dangling above Mamalahoa Highway during Hurricane Lala near Ocean View, Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) AccuWeather hurricane experts forecast more than 3 feet of rain on the Big Island, a threshold that has now been exceeded in several locations. The highest 48-hour rainfall totals topped 3 feet on the Big Island, including 42.50 inches at Laupahoehoe, with more than 35 inches at Nahuku and Nene Cabin; Maui’s highest total was 23.17 inches at Waikamoi. Through the weekend, Hawaii Department of Transportation crews have been responding to blocked roads on Hawaii Island, Maui and Oahu as Lala's powerful winds knocked down trees and power poles. More than 200,000 homes and businesses were without power across Hawaii Sunday as Lala’s winds spread westward across the island chain, according to PowerOutage.us. About 70% of the Hawaii Island customers are without service and more than 120,000 are out in Honolulu County on Oahu. Debris and trees down on Route 210 on Hawaii Island from Hurricane Lala's brings winds on Aug. 15, 2026. (Image credit: Hawaii DOT) A 140-mph gust was reported at Mauna Kea Summit around noon. A 74-mph gust was recorded in Olowalu, Maui. Hawaii Electric began preparing for Lala earlier in the week. The provider said more than 500 employees, contractors and support workers are positioned across the state to help with power restoration efforts following the storm. Coastal areas also face a growing threat. Swells generated by Lala reached east-facing shores Friday before spreading west and building through the weekend, producing life-threatening surf and rip currents. On Saturday, as Lala skimmed by the islands, big waves were pounding across east-facing shores with heights nearing 20 feet. The highest surf is forecast from Upolu Point in North Kohala to South Point in Kaʻū. Lala arrived as the Big Island was already dealing with other natural hazards. Lava fountains reached heights of 80-100 feet above Kilauea’s summit in Hawaii on Aug. 12. Footage shared by the USGS shows the eruption during the day and at night inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, reopened between Old Saddle Road and Highway 190 on Friday. Crews were battling a wildfire that started Tuesday in South Kohala, leading to the temporary closure. The fire had burned about 230 acres and was 60% contained as of Wednesday, with crews from Hawaii County, the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Pohakuloa Training Area and the Hawaii Army National Guard involved in the response. Kilauea also produced its 53rd eruptive episode of the ongoing summit eruption Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday. The episode began at 3:45 p.m. HST Wednesday and ended at 1:23 a.m. Thursday after 9.6 hours of lava fountaining. Fountains reached approximately 500 feet above the ground while the volcanic plume climbed to about 18,000 feet above sea level. The U.S. Geological Survey said another lava-fountaining episode is likely. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed most areas to the public beginning Friday at noon ahead of Lala's arrival. Hawaii’s Big Island has never had a hurricane landfall Lala passed just south of the Big Island Saturday night. If Lala had made landfall, it would have been the first-known hurricane landfall there in the modern historical record, according to AccuWeather hurricane experts. Tropical cyclone landfalls on the Big Island are rare. Tropical Storm Iselle crossed the Kaʻū coast near Pahala in August 2014 after weakening from a hurricane shortly before reaching the island. Tropical Storm Darby made landfall near Pahala in July 2016 before crossing the southern half of the island. The island’s towering terrain can disrupt the circulation of approaching tropical cyclones. Both Iselle and Darby weakened or became significantly disrupted as they encountered the Big Island’s mountainous terrain. Still, a tropical storm or hurricane does not need to make landfall to produce dangerous impacts. Hurricane Hone passed about 50 miles south of the Big Island in August 2024, bringing heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds to parts of the island. Hone’s center made its closest approach about 45 nautical miles south of South Point while the storm was strengthening into a Category 1 hurricane. 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At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar den... Strong winds and torrential rain are lashing Hawaii after Hurricane Lala skirted the Big Island, prompting warnings of flooding, mudslides, and storm surge. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Lala came closest to the Big Island near South Point, where one person died in a weather-related car accident. Lala reached hurricane strength on Saturday, producing winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) that later peaked at 146 km/h (91 mph). The storm could bring up to 63 cm (25 inches) of rain and generate a 0.91 metre (3-foot) storm surge. Tens of thousands of people were left without power as officials urged residents to prepare for potentially life-threatening conditions. Residents seek shelter as flooding threatens On the Big Island, resident Cynthia Totty-Hefley said she was more worried about the ocean reaching her home than falling coconuts. “What I'm most worried about is the ocean coming into my house. I'm a little anxious.” Authorities opened emergency shelters as the storm moved westward. A temporary shelter at Waiakea High School in Hilo was preparing to accommodate up to 200 people. Warnings extend across Hawaii A hurricane warning is in effect for the Big Island, while Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Lanai, Kauai and Niihau are under tropical storm warnings. The National Hurricane Centre said that as of 17:00 local time on Saturday (03:00 GMT Sunday), Lala's eyewall was “brushing the southern portion of the Big Island”. “Damaging winds and heavy rain will persist across the Big Island throughout tonight and spread westwards across the smaller islands on Sunday,” it said.

Lala is again a tropical storm, sending drenching rain and winds across the Hawaiian islands Lala is again a tropical storm, sending drenching rain and winds across the Hawaiian islands Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday after its eyewall skirted Hawaii without making landfall, but it continued to punish the state with hurricane-force gusts and pounding rain, reaching a total of nearly three feet (one meter) in places and sending raging torrents down mountainsides. A search-and-rescue mission including Civil Defense, the National Guard and a Coast Guard helicopter was launched after flash floods apparently swept several occupied homes off their foundations in the coastal communities of Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu, near the Big Island’s southern tip, authorities said. “What makes this very challenging is that there’s rushing water, there’s debris, and there’s boulders on the road and it’s dark,” Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said early Sunday. At least one person died in a vehicle wreck in the South Point area of the Big Island, Gov. Josh Green said Saturday. Flooding, downed trees and power outages Honolulu was bearing the brunt of Sunday morning’s weather as tropical storm conditions spread westward across the island chain. Honolulu Fire Department had launched dozens of weather-related responses by 2 a.m. local time Sunday, including 58 reports of downed trees, 39 blown roofs, 12 downed power lines, 12 arcing-wire situations and one swimmer rescue, according to a statement from the city. Much of the state remained under a flash flood warning, though the Big Island was downgraded to a flood advisory Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rain, mudslides, downed trees, active flooding and downed power lines were among the biggest threats, weather service meteorologist Stephen Parker said. “Basically, the best thing to do right now is just stay home for a bit longer,” he said. “The storm won’t last forever and once those kind of threats get cleaned up, it will be safe to be out and about again.” Fewer than 60,000 homes and businesses were without power by 9:30 a.m. local time, down from more than 200,000 just a few hours earlier, according to the utility tracker poweroutage.us. At least three hospitals were operating on generator power, the governor said. Powerful waves pounded the Big Island’s coast as Lala slowly passed by. Just missing landfall, the eyewall didn’t weaken, and its winds pounded the mountainsides. Waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff as bands of rain blew nearly sideways. What’s next for Lala Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau, raising the possibility of destructive flooding and even wildfires kicked up by strong winds on the drier sides of the islands. The heaviest rain Sunday morning was falling on Lanai, Moloka’i and Oahu, while the highest winds were gusts over 100 mph (161 kph) at the towering Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island, Parker said. As of 8 a.m. Sunday in Hawaii, Lala was centered about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu with reports of wind gusts of nearly 70 mph (112 kph) in Kaneohe on Oahu, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in an update. He said the storm was moving northwest at about 14 mph (22 kph), and conditions across Kauai were expected to deteriorate during the day. Forecasters expect Lala to regain hurricane strength midweek once it’s well west of the island chain. Some higher-altitude places on the Big Island, dominated by Mauna Kea, have been hit with as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain. That’s enough to loosen steep slopes where some of the 210,000 islanders live off the grid in improvised housing. As the hurricane approached, shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures rather than structures that might collapse. Many residents are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods in March and were taking precautions. Bracing for damage Kate McLellan, a resident on Oahu’s North Shore, was still waiting for the worst of the storm to strike after her power went out Sunday morning. She was glued to the weather network, monitoring the Lala’s progress. In March and April, her community was hit by back-to-back storms that moved slowly, leading to a couple weeks of heavy rain and high winds that kept residents on high alert. Memories of that storm were “giving that same uncertainty and hesitation and panic and anxiety,” McLellan said. The state’s preparation and communication during the storm has been better than in the past, she said. Before the storm hit, she saw crews trimming trees that were close to power lines and digging out passages to streams leading to the ocean. ___ Associated Press writer Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu contributed.

One dead, homes swept away after Hurricane Lala lashes Hawaii Hawaii is facing flash floods and mudslides that have swept away some homes after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island, leaving one person dead in a car accident. A search-and-rescue operation was under way after several properties were uprooted from their foundations in the coastal communities of Naalehu and Waiohinu. Despite not even making landfall, the storm still dumped up to 35in (89cm) of rain in places, sending torrents raging down mountainsides. More than 200,000 householders were without power. Although Lala has weakened to a tropical storm and was moving westward, south of Hawaii, the danger is not over, say officials. The storm's eyewall howled within 30 miles (48km) of Big Island's South Point overnight, but it was close enough to bring flash flooding, Hawaii County said on Sunday. After gaining hurricane strength on Saturday afternoon, packing wind speeds of 91mph, Lala's winds have now decreased to near 65mph, said the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its latest advisory at 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) on Sunday. But tropical storm warnings remain in effect for all eight of Hawaii's major islands. "Lala is expected to produce additional rainfall of 4 to 8 inches across the Big Island and windward Maui, with maximum storm totals of 30 to 35 inches," the NHC said, while the rest of the island chain can expect rainfall of 4 to 6in. The US National Weather Service's office in Honolulu said it had had reports of two homes being swept away amid the intense rainfall. Mayor Kimo Alameda said the county's civil defence agency had launched a search-and-rescue operation to find people whose homes may have been destroyed in the floods. "What makes this very challenging is that there's rushing water, there's debris, there's boulders on the road, and it's dark," he said earlier. About 180 Hawaii National Guard members have been deployed to help with the emergency response. Some 219,000 customers had lost electricity on Hawaii as of Sunday morning local time, according to tracker PowerOutage. Three hospitals also lost power, but had backup generators. Big Island's two main airports, Hilo International and Ellison Onizuka Kona, were temporarily closed, but have since reopened. According to the governor, 190 flights have been postponed. In Maui, some residents were left without water supply on Saturday. Iniki, a powerful category four storm, was the last hurricane to hit Hawaii back in 1992. It caused six deaths and $3bn in damage after making landfall on the southern coast of Kauai. Hurricane season in the US has been relatively quiet the last few years - the last major storm was category three Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida in October 2024. This year has seen a strong El Niño - a periodically occurring area of unusually warm surface water - develop in the Pacific, driven in part by climate change. As hurricanes and typhoons feed off warm sea waters, this spike in ocean temperatures could facilitate a higher number of storms that grow to have a greater intensity.

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Tropical Storm Lala continued to bring damaging winds and heavy rains on Sunday after skirting past Hawaii's Big Island as a hurricane overnight. At least one person died in a car accident in the southernmost point of the Big Island, officials said. Powerful waves pounded the Big Island's coast as Lala slowly passed by. Howling winds whipped palm trees and waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff from relentless rain that blew nearly sideways. The weather system weakened back to a tropical storm as it continued moving west, while remaining south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands on Sunday. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said the storm is expected to weaken throughout the day into Monday but will still pack a punch. On Saturday, Lala's eyewall — an area of powerful winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain which encircles the eye of a hurricane —brushed the southern portion of the Big Island, forecasters said. A hurricane has not made direct landfall in the state since Hurricane Iniki in 1992. At least one person has died, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said on social media. "Please be safe. You definitely want to be home, do not be out on the roads," he added in a social media video. Two homes were swept away in Naalehu in the Kau District of Hawaii Island during flash flooding on Saturday evening, according to CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said on social media that a search and rescue mission, including Civil Defense, the National Guard and Coast Guard, was launched after flash floods apparently swept several occupied homes off their foundations in the coastal communities of Na'alehu and Wai'ohinu, near the island's southern tip. "What makes this very challenging is that there's rushing water, there's debris and there's boulders on the road and it's dark," he said. More than 222,000 homes were without power across the state, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said there were reports of downed trees and power lines across the Big Island. The agency implored people to "please stay indoors and off the roads." Officials said that Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, both located on Hawaii's Big Island, had been temporarily shuttered. Big Island and Maui County commercial ports were also closed. About 180 Hawaii National Guard members had been deployed to assist with emergency response, the state's emergency management agency said. Maps show storm warnings, path Tropical storm conditions will persist across portions of the Big Island on Sunday and will spread westward from Maui County to Oahu and then to Kauai County later in the day, forecasters said. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Ni'iau, is also under a tropical storm warning. In its latest advisory at 8 a.m. Sunday in Hawaii, Lala was about 190 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and about 75 miles south of Honolulu, which is located on Oahu. It was moving at 14 mph with tropical-storm-force winds extending as much as 140 miles from its center. Lala was sustaining top winds of 65 mph. Forecasters expect it to regain hurricane strength midweek as it whirls south of the other islands. "Lala is expected to produce additional rainfall of 4 to 8 inches across the Big Island and windward Maui, with maximum storm totals of 30 to 35 inches," the NHC said, adding that the rest of the island chain could expect a total rainfall of 4 to 6 inches. "This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain." Mudslides were also a major concern, and large, dangerous surf also brings the potential for coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

Hurricane Lala slams Hawaii’s Big Island, triggers historic blackouts - CHOSUNBIZ EnglishInternational Hurricane Lala slams Hawaii's Big Island, triggers historic blackouts Life-threatening floods and landslides feared as Lala nears Big Island with 120 kph winds By Jung Hae-yong Published 2026.08.16. 12:56 !On Sat., Aug. 15, as Hurricane Lala batters the area near Ocean View, Hawaii, a vehicle passes a road where a fallen utility pole dangles precariously over Mamalahoa Highway. /Courtesy of AP Yonhap News On Sat., Aug. 15, as Hurricane Lala batters the area near Ocean View, Hawaii, a vehicle passes a road where a fallen utility pole dangles precariously over Mamalahoa Highway. /Courtesy of AP Yonhap News As Hurricane "Lala" approached Hawaii in the United States, strong winds and heavy rain caused a large-scale power outage on Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island. The Associated Press said on the 15th (local time) that 32% of power customers on the Big Island experienced outages due to the hurricane. The AP reported it was the first time in 155 years that the Big Island, the largest island in Hawaii with a population of 210,000, was hit head-on by a hurricane. Earlier, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that life-threatening flooding and landslides would occur due to rainfall, urging particular caution around steep slopes. According to the NHC, Lala is a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph. By maximum sustained wind, Category 5 is the highest hurricane category, and Category 1 is the lowest. With Lala approaching, a hurricane warning was issued for the Big Island, and tropical storm warnings were issued for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. Vanessa Almanza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) based in Honolulu, told the AP that Hurricane Lala is expected to strike very close to the southern tip of the Big Island. According to a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist's research, a Category 3 hurricane struck the island's northeast in 1871. According to local media reports carried by Reuters, Hawaiian Electric advised customers that "there may be prolonged outages and they could persist through the night." The company said employees were inspecting a 42-mile (68-kilometer) stretch of transmission lines after fallen trees along the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island brought down utility poles and structures. The hurricane could bring 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 centimeters) of rain to the Big Island, with up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) possible, especially at higher elevations. Eastern Maui is expected to receive 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) of precipitation, and western Maui 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters). As of the afternoon of the 15th, the hurricane was moving west. The Hawaii Department of Transportation said it would close Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. The department also closed commercial harbors on Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kauai. ※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback Jung Hae-yong Deputy Editor, Real Estate News Desk What to Read Next Motorola launches moto g57 power in South Korea with 7000mAh battery Motorola Korea said it will release the smartphone "moto g57 power," which features a high-capacity battery and enhanced durabilit... Grammy signals Asian pop category overhaul after BTS boycott The Grammy Awards suggested it could revise the best Asian pop music performance institutional sector about two weeks after group ... 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Flooding rain and strong winds are continuing to move through Hawaii after Hurricane Lala passed by the islands overnight, before weakening slightly Sunday morning to a tropical storm with 65 mph sustained winds and heavy rain. More than 200,000 customers are without power across the islands, and nearly 70% of the Big Island is without power. Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported in Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties, with the mountainous island terrain amplifying winds at higher elevations. At least 100 homes were damaged and lost in the storm, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said during a Sunday news conference. The island of Oahu, including the state’s capital Honolulu, is under a flash flood warning Sunday afternoon, after the Big Island saw flash flooding Saturday night. “Several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations, and based on that, civil defense has initiated a search and rescue mission,” Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said overnight. Dangerous flash flooding as Lala moves west Lala has started to pull away from the islands Sunday afternoon, but heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the day across the island chain. Green on Saturday evening attributed a car accident to the storm but said Sunday it wasn’t clear whether it was connected to Lala. In a video update Saturday night, Hawaii County’s Acting Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliviera said occupants of a vehicle stuck in floodwaters were being rescued, though he did not provide further details. Lala, which strengthened to a Category 1 storm Saturday, made its closest approach to Hawaii’s Big Island at around 5 p.m. local time, with its eyewall brushing the southern portion from roughly 30 miles away, according to the National Hurricane Center. Videos obtained by CNN show streets flooded by torrential rainfall on the Big Island, which got over 30 inches of rain. More than 190 flights in and out of Hawaii have been postponed, Green said. Emergency responders are expected to be busy dealing with urgent matters for 36 hours as the storm passes Hawaii, with damage assessment expected to begin on Monday, the governor said. A record number of road closures and prolonged power outages had been reported, according to Mayor Alameda. Rain, wind ongoing as storm passes through As Lala moves west, its most serious threat is its torrential rain, which could also spur additional flash flooding across the other Hawaiian Islands. The National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. Up to 6 inches of additional rain is expected in parts of Kauai, where tropical storm warnings are in effect. Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu and Kahoolawe are also under a tropical storm warning. Waves could reach 8 to 12 feet, particularly on east-facing shores where a high surf advisory is in effect. Landfalls — when the center of the eye moves over land — on the Hawaiian islands have happened only a handful of times in the modern record. The last tropical system to make landfall was Tropical Storm Olivia in 2018, which came ashore on Maui, the island’s first landfall since recordkeeping began in the 1950s. The last landfalling hurricane was in 1992 when Category 4 Iniki hit Kauai, becoming the strongest storm to directly strike the state on record. Hawaii residents brace for hurricane impacts Across Hawaii, residents evacuated to designated shelters and scoured packed grocery stores as officials across several counties announced closures and prepared for potential landfall. In Hilo, grocery stores and gas stations were busy as people stocked up on essentials, CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now reported. Hawaii County was also offering sandbags for residents around the island. Around 130 people had fled to shelters Saturday, according to the mayor. “You got to take all the necessary precautions, right? So it’s batteries. It’s get your emergency kit, inform your neighbors, the kupuna (elders),” Mayor Alameda said earlier in the day. “Make sure that everybody’s safe because our island’s big and we have small communities and we’re very connected.” Many roads in Hawaii County are closed due to downed trees and utility lines and landslides, according to the County of Hawaii Mayor’s Office. “While road crews are working hard to clear debris as conditions allow, we need all residents and visitors to heed all warnings, move into safe shelter, and stay off the roadways,” Alameda said. County officials and the National Guard had also been discussing placing resources ahead of time in areas hard-hit by storms earlier this year, according to Hawaii News Now. And in Oahu, officials opened eight hurricane refuge areas as public facilities like the Honolulu Zoo shuttered. Officials urged residents to be cautious as the hurricane approached. “We also need our community to do its part by securing property, checking emergency supplies, staying informed, and avoiding unnecessary travel and outdoor activities as conditions deteriorate,” Kauai Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said. Tropical storms approaching Hawaii typically hit cooler ocean temperatures before reaching the islands, but Lala will remain over warmer waters due to an ongoing marine heatwave that extends to California and a developing Super El Niño. El Niño is helping fuel increased storm potential in the central Pacific this year with warmer ocean temperatures and weaker winds in the upper atmosphere, which can normally break up storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast an above-average central Pacific season, with five to 13 cyclones expected. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN’s Andrew Freedman, Nic F. Anderson and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.

HONOLULU — At least one person has died in Hawaii during the early hours of Hurricane Lala's passage, which made landfall this madrugada in the North American archipelago accompanied by sustained winds of nearly 120 kilometers per hour and torrential rains causing floods and landslides, especially on the main island. The state governor, Josh Green, confirmed the first death as due to a traffic accident “linked to the storm” and stressed that all citizens should stay sheltered for the next few hours. About 70% of the island (around 60,000 homes, according to Green) is without power and two residences have already been destroyed. Lala moves away from the Big Island and the worst is yet to come for other major islands in the archipelago like Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Lanai, and Kauai. Strong rains and intense winds pummeled the Pacific state as authorities warned of potentially dangerous flooding. It is expected to weaken as it moves away from the area. “Winds that could cause damage in areas of the Big Island will persist overnight, with the strongest winds expected in higher elevation areas,” the National Hurricane Center said at 23:00 local time (09:00 GMT Sunday), while warning that the coast would be hit by “large and dangerous waves.” Lala strengthened to become a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday, with winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Lala “appears to have reached its peak intensity” as it passed near South Point, Big Island, in the afternoon, but did not make landfall. “The hurricane could maintain its intensity for several more hours, but a weakening is expected in the early hours of Sunday as Lala continues to move away from the Big Island,” said NHC officials. Imminent threat For the early hours of the day, authorities expected “a gradual turn to the west with an increase in forward speed on Sunday, while the storm’s core remains south of the main, smaller Hawaiian islands and east of the more eastern Hawaiian NW islands during the first part of the coming week,” they added. The Big Island is the second most populous in the archipelago, with 210,000 residents, behind Oahu, with more than a million people. The rains “will cause floods and ground devastation that threaten life, especially in rugged terrain areas,” warned the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Power outages affecting more than 20,000 people were reported on Hawaii Saturday afternoon, and meteorological authorities confirmed “damaging winds and heavy rains” extending across the Big Island, famed for its surfing and tourism. Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency last Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that on the Big Island rainfall could exceed 60 centimeters and a storm surge with “dangerous waves.” It has been 155 years since a hurricane last reached the Big Island. The possibility of the Big Island witnessing its first direct hurricane impact in 155 years faded when the storm’s eye passed through the island’s southern tip. A hurricane last made landfall on the islands in 1992, when Category 4 Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai. The Big Island was last hit directly in 1871, when a Category 3 hurricane reached the northeast corner, according to research by a Hawaii University atmospheric scientist. El Niño and hurricanes A powerful El Niño phenomenon has formed in the center of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with temperatures so high that NOAA forecasts a 69% chance of “a historic event that would exceed the intensity of previous El Niño episodes since 1950,” between October and December. Scientists regularly warn that climate change caused by humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme events. El Niño causes more intense hurricanes and increases cyclone activity. For this year, the Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN) forecasts between 18 and 21 tropical cyclones in the Pacific. The figure represents an increase from the 16 cyclones recorded on average in the last three years. 2025: 18 2024: 12 2023: 17 SOURCE: With information from Europa Press/AFP/El Economista

The storm Lala turned into a hurricane and is advancing toward the Hawaii archipelago, with winds of 120 kilometers per hour, the United States National Weather Service (NWS) announced this Saturday (08/15/2026). The Big Island of Hawaii was preparing for the first direct hit of a hurricane in 155 years, while Lala roared in the Pacific Ocean and strong winds, waves, and rains battered the region, where no cyclone had made landfall since 1992. "Recent satellite and radar information indicate that Lala has strengthened," said the weather service, NWS (for its initials in English) in its latest report at 21:00 CET. At that time, it was 135 kilometers southeast of the Big Island, one of the eight main islands of the Pacific archipelago of the same name. "Significant rains, strong winds, dangerous surf, and localized flooding are expected," warned the NWS, adding that landslides could also occur. The National Hurricane Center reported that Lala's maximum sustained winds had risen to 120 km/h (75 mph), making it a Category 1 hurricane. It was forecast that the hurricane’s eye would move over or near the southern tip of the island at dusk, pounding the volcanic slopes thousands of meters above sea level with its strongest winds. Meteorologists indicated that the island’s higher elevations, dominated by the imposing Mauna Kea volcano, could receive up to 63.5 centimeters (25 inches) of rain. This could trigger potentially deadly landslides in a mountainous area where the population lives in isolated improvised dwellings. Last hurricane to arrive was in 1992 Lala would become the first hurricane to make landfall in the archipelago since 1992 and the first to impact the Big Island in more than a century. Earlier on Saturday, when Lala was still a tropical storm, heavy torrential rains had already been recorded on the Big Island of Hawaii. The governor of the American Pacific island, Josh Green, declared a state of emergency since Thursday. The Big Island, the second-most populated in the archipelago with 210,000 residents, was under hurricane alert, and tropical storm alerts were issued for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. A Category 3 hurricane struck the northeastern tip of the Big Island in 1871, according to a study by an atmospheric scientist from the University of Hawaii. The latest forecast indicates that Lala will impact "very close to the southern end of the Big Island," said Vanessa Almanza, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Residents prepared for the worst Shelters opened, events were canceled, and ranchers were urged to keep their cattle out on the pastures rather than in structures that could collapse. "It doesn’t have to touch land to cause destruction," Almanza said. Indeed, Christine Matsuda, a Waimea resident in the island’s north, commented that "the strong gusts shake the whole house every few minutes." According to poweroutage.us, nearly 20% of Big Island customers lost electricity. Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old resident who has lived there all his life, said he planned to "take shelter, cross his fingers, and hope the power doesn’t go out" at a retirement home on the outskirts of Hilo. He noted that gas stations were crowded as people sought fuel for chainsaws and vehicles. jc (AFP, AP)

Hurricane Lala brushed the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday without making landfall, and it is expected to weaken gradually. The storm has battered the region with strong winds and torrential rain, causing road flooding and the overflow of several rivers. The possibility that the island would suffer the first direct hit from a hurricane in 155 years has faded as the storm’s eye passed along its southern edge. However, strong winds are expected to continue for hours, with the most powerful gusts concentrated in higher-altitude areas, according to the National Hurricane Center. Heavy rain will continue through Sunday and could cause floods and mudslides, while seas rise along the archipelago’s coasts. Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau as the storm moves westward. The Big Island is the state’s largest, with a population of about 210,000. Governor Josh Green has noted that at least one person has died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island. In addition, 19 roofs have been lost and 190 flights postponed. “They definitely want to be at home, not on the roads,” he said. Meteorologists indicated that the island’s higher elevations, dominated by the majestic Mauna Kea volcano, could receive up to 63.5 centimeters (25 inches) of rain. This could trigger dangerous mudslides in a mountainous area where people live off the grid in improvised homes. No electricity. Bobby Camara, 75, who has lived his entire life on the Big Island, said he planned to “hold on, cross my fingers, hope the power doesn’t go out” in a care home on the outskirts of Hilo. He said gas stations were crowded with people seeking fuel for chainsaws and vehicles. “I think stocking up is part of life around here… You learn to be self-sufficient,” he said. Lala intensified from a tropical storm to a hurricane early Saturday as its maximum sustained winds rose to 120 km/h (75 mph). Framed in Category 1, it prompted the opening of shelters and the cancellation of numerous events. The last time a hurricane made landfall in Hawaii was in 1992, which “caused $3 billion in damages, destroyed thousands of homes, and killed six people,” according to Governor Green. The Big Island was last directly hit in 1871.

THE TAKEAWAY - Lala downgrades to tropical storm status following the latest National Hurricane Center advisory. - One person has died in a storm-related car accident, according to Governor Josh Green. - Flooding is underway as torrential rain and high winds continue to batter the island terrain. HONOLULU, Hawaii – Lala continues moving westward offshore of the Hawaiian Islands as a newly downgraded tropical storm, maintaining rare and dangerous impacts on the state with violent flooding and damaging winds. The system was briefly upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center on Saturday afternoon before its recent weakening trend. killed in a storm-related car accident, according to an update from Governor Josh Green.At least one person was A Flash Flood Emergency unfolded on the Big Island as torrential rain is still slamming the Islands, with reports of at least two homes swept away. Destructive winds have knocked out power to nearly 70% of the Big Island as Tropical Storm Lala's impacts are far from over across the Hawaiian Islands. Tropical Strom Lala is tracking northwest along the western side of the Big Island, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall that will move toward Oahu and Kauai on Sunday. In the latest advisory, the NHC said that Lala has sustained winds of 65 mph as it moves through the Pacific Ocean northwest at 14 mph. Torrential rain has pushed several area waterways into flood stage. The Wailuku River, which feeds Rainbow Falls and flows into Hilo, has reached its sixth-highest level on record. According to the NHC, peak rainfall measurements over the last 12 hours have reached between 15 and 17 inches across windward Maui and the Big Island. On top of the flooding, mudslides are a major concern as well. The center of Tropical Storm Lala has passed the Big Island and will begin to turn west, moving away from Hawaii on Sunday. "It will take some time, however, and the worst impacts are still to come across Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Lanai, and Kauaʻi," the FOX Forecast Center said. The worst impacts are continuing Sunday. Heavy rain, damaging winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding will continue to slam the Hawaiian Islands. Rain totals could topple two feet, bringing a significant threat of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides. Waves up to 25 feet have battered the eastern-facing shore. Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a State of Emergency on Thursday ahead of the storm, warning that "Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly Hawaiʻi Island." On Saturday morning he gave an update just before Lala was declared a hurricane. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the Main Island, but has since been discontinued. Stay with FOX Weather for updates to this developing story.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Lala has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it passes to the south of the smaller islands, but it’s still bringing lots of rain as it passes. The center of the storm is forecast to pass south of Kauai County today and move south of the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands early this week. Graphics courtesy National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service. Watches and Warnings A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the following: - Maui County including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. - Oahu. - Kauai County including the islands of Kauai and Niihau. Flood alerts are continuing in localized areas. A High Surf Advisory is in effect for east facing shores of Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau until 2 p.m. HST. Forecast track and timing As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Lala’s center was located near latitude 20.7 North, longitude 158.8 West. Lala is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph but is expected to turn westward soon. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. A continued westward motion is forecast through Tuesday night. The core of the storm is forecast to remain south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands during the next couple of days. Storm impacts Your HNN First Alert Weather Team has declared Sunday as a First Alert Weather Day. Wind Tropical storm conditions are ongoing across portions of Maui County and Oahu and are spreading westward over Kauai County, with the strongest winds occurring in areas of higher terrain. Wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater. Rain Lala is expected to produce additional rainfall of 1 to 3inches across windward portions of the the Big Island and windward Maui, with maximum storm total of 30 to 35 inches over the windward Big Island. Across the remainder of the island chain total rainfall of 2 to 6 inches is expected, with the highest totals over windward Kauai. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Storm surge The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. Surf Swells generated by Lala will continue to build westward across the exposed windward waters today. Swells will also build over the exposed leeward waters as Lala passes south of the islands. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Related posts - Get the latest First Alert Forecast - Island-by-island list of Hawaii closures, cancellations - How to build a hurricane kit: Tips to help your family prepare for emergencies Watch more storm-related videos Download the HNN Weather app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for the latest updates from your First Alert Weather Team: chief meteorologist Jennifer Robbins and weather anchors Guy Hagi, Dan Cooke, Ben Gutierrez, and Billy V. Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

UPDATE: The eye of the storm passed the southern point of Hawaiʻi island without making landfall, but left one person dead, others injured by a falling tree. The eye of Hurricane Lala passed the southern tip of the Big Island as of Saturday evening, bringing a storm that blew fierce winds, caused gushing floods, knocked out power for some 60,000 people and contributed to the injuries of several people — at least one fatally. The center of the eye did not cross over land, the National Weather Service said, so the storm did not technically make landfall. A hurricane has not made landfall on Hawaiʻi island in 155 years but Big Island Mayor Kimo Alameda noted that it was a close enough call that “we’re feeling the impacts.” Lala was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm early Sunday. One person was killed in a head-on car collision Saturday afternoon at Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, and three others suffered traumatic injuries after a tree fell on them in Puna, according to the mayor. The injured were taken to Hilo Medical Center. The storm forced the closure of more than 30 roads on the Big Island while winds ripped down power lines islandwide, and power was knocked out for more than 60,000 customers from Kohala to Nāʻālehu, according to Hawaiian Electric. Alameda said he was most concerned about the domino effect of that loss of power. It affects people who need home healthcare, including those who rely on oxygen tanks, as well as the island’s wastewater system, which was relying on backup energy as of Saturday evening. HECO said crews are working around the clock to restore power but customers should prepare for the likelihood of extended outages, possibility overnight. Traffic lights were down across the island. In the early evening, Hawaiʻi County announced “a record number of widespread road closures and prolonged power outages.” One reason for the extended problems was the danger the storm posed to workers sent out to make repairs. “Conditions have degraded to a point that concern for the safety of our road and power personnel has resulted in crews being asked to fallback until conditions improve,” the Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Agency said just after 5 p.m. Power was out or unstable for thousands of other residents across the other islands too even as it was being restored in some areas. Damaging winds are expected to persist overnight on the Big Island and spread westward through Sunday. The National Hurricane Center warned winds would be most severe at higher elevations, and there is a risk for life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. Storm surges and tides could flood coastlines by 1 to 3 feet on the Big Island. The Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply issued an Essential Needs Only Notice: Residents should use water only for drinking, cooking or personal hygiene. Water levels in Big Island rivers and gulches had been rapidly rising all day. Wailuku River in Hilo surged from 3.4 feet at 7 p.m. on Friday to 16.2 feet by Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. As the storm approached, Hawaiʻi island communities had prepared for impacts, and public and private services —from bus routes to flights — were canceled. Cancelations of some services began spreading to other islands later in the afternoon and evening as winds picked up. Power Out For Thousands As of Saturday at 3 p.m., about 44,000 Hawaiian Electric customers statewide were without electricity. HECO said hundreds of personnel were working to address power outages but added that customers should prepare for possible prolonged periods without power, the company said. Powerful winds have knocked down utility poles, and four of HECO’s independent power providers on Hawaiʻi island are disconnected from the grid because of storm damage. As a result, HECO warned that it might have to “load shed” — meaning temporarily shut off power for residents to maintain the stability of the system. Those shutoffs would only affect Hawaiʻi island, the company said and are not part of the company’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program. At one point on Saturday, more than 30,000 customers were in the dark in Hilo, Kona, Kohala, Hāmākua, and Puna, according to HECO. A Civil Beat reporter on the Big Island who lost power was informed they would not have power back until Monday. On Maui, approximately 3,300 customers had lost electricity in Upcountry Maui, Haʻikū, West and South Maui and Moloka‘i. On Oʻahu, roughly 8,400 customers had lost power in ʻAina Haina, Kaimukī, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Mānoa and Nuʻuanu. In Kaimukī, some traffic signals had gone dark. In Waikīkī, power flickered in the afternoon but resumed. HECO said its crews have been getting electricity back on as quickly as it is safe to do so. The numbers represented on the utility’s outage maps have fluctuated as power is lost and turned back on. Customers can call HECO to report downed power lines, which the company notes should be treated as “energized and dangerous.” - Hawaiʻi Island: 1-855-304-9191 - Maui County: 1-855-304-8181 - Oʻahu: 1-855-304-1212 Downed Trees, Road Closures The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency reported a record number of road closures as the storm surged across the island. They included places where a landslide closed a lane of Hawaiʻi Belt Road in North Hilo at the 28-mile marker shortly before 8 a.m., and where a downed tree closed both lanes of Kohala Mountain Road near the 15-mile marker. Old Volcano Road also was closed because of downed power lines in Puna fronting the Keaʻau Urgent Care facility. The Hawaiʻi Police Department advised drivers to avoid Plumeria Street between Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19) and Lehua Street until late Saturday evening because of electric lines on road. The county had warned on Friday that widespread rainfall of 5 to 10 inches was expected while the storm could drop more than 2 feet of rain on some areas. Officials expect peak impacts to hit on Saturday, but said hazardous conditions could drag on through Sunday. Alameda, the Big Island mayor, said that by mid-morning Saturday, about 130 people had taken refuge in the dozen emergency shelters opened by the county, including many Puna residents who were alarmed by high winds and flooding. He said gusts of 70 mph had been reported in Kohala at that point. “In the past hour, it already elevated our concerns,” he said at the time. The county did not announce any mandatory evacuations, but Alameda said he believed the threat from Lala was “only going to get worse. We haven’t felt the brunt of it yet, at least from what we’re hearing from the Weather Service.” Indeed, as the hurricane passed the southern point of the island, gusts at the the highest elevations ranged above 100 mph late Saturday afternoon. The county’s main concern Saturday morning had been the area from Kohala down to Ocean View in Kaʻū, the mayor said. Some people were reporting only modest impacts from the storm in other parts of the island, including North Kona, but Alameda said he told them, “Not for long. Not for long, man.” “So, so they’re bracing themselves,” he said. “We’re really not out of the woods. I mean, I feel it. I can sense it. I’d say by 6 o’clock tonight, six to 12 o’clock tonight, we’re going to be hurting.” He added: “I mean, I hope not. I pray not. But it looks like it’s projecting that way.” Civil Defense received a report of one car that had hit a fallen tree on Hawaiʻi 19, but there were no injuries in that accident, according to county spokesman Tom Callis. Other toppled trees have caused problems. “The storms barely even started, and we already had a big tree fall and hit the roof,” Cassidy Silva of Mountain View posted on Facebook on Saturday morning. Alameda said closure of the Hilo and the Ellison Onizuka Kona International airports helped with the county’s emergency response because it meant fewer visitors circulating on the Big Island. “A good, significant number of our rescues are the tourists because they’re not informed, they don’t have the app, they’re not signed up to our alerts,” he said, “so they just go right into the road closure or sometimes it’s flooding.” The tourists who remained were told to shelter in place, he said. The storm kept county highway crews busy all Friady night cutting trees, clearing roadways and closing roads where hazards were reported, Alameda said. The county announced shortly before noon Saturday that Highway 11 near Waiʻōhinu was blocked by fallen trees, and Highway 11 near Kāwā Flats was closed because of flooding. Kāwā is the site of regular flooding during heavy rains. On Saturday afternoon, the mayor issued a statement urging people to stay sheltered in place. “We are receiving reports of downed trees and road closures across the island, and hazardous weather conditions will continue to intensify today,” he said. “While road crews are working hard to clear debris as conditions allow, we need all residents and visitors to heed all warnings, move into safe shelter, and stay off the roadways. For your safety, and the safety of our first responders, we urge our community to continue to hunker down until this hurricane passes.” Mayor: ‘All Hands On Deck’ The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense headquarters had been fully activated by Friday morning to include state leaders and the National Guard, and “right now we’re basically monitoring,” Alameda said. ”We want to make sure that all of our culverts are clear, and our flood canals are also clear,” he had said on Friday. The county has replaced culverts in South Kona and cleared drainage channels since floodwaters from the Kona low storms in March surged through South Kona. “We’ve tried to better assess the flood patterns, which is kind of difficult because it didn’t go the way we thought it would during the Kona low,” Alameda said. “It went all kinds of different directions than we thought it would.” “We brought out maps in South Kona, we brought out maps in Kaʻū and we kind of compared it with what happened in the Kona low and then we adjusted our flood canals accordingly,” Alameda said, “but we don’t know what we don’t know, so we did the best we can to prepare for that.” Staff had started outreach to the homeless population on the island on Thursday, the mayor said, and the county had opened a dozen shelters across the island at 6 p.m. on Friday. One area of particular concern is a “Safe Sleeping” tent shelter run by the Salvation Army in a vacant lot along Hilo’s Ponahawai Street. If that operation has to be evacuated, Alameda said about 70 of the homeless people who sleep there will be directed to an indoor shelter at Clem Akina Park in the Puʻu’eo neighborhood. Residents are being reminded they need to bring their own supplies, and the county will supply cots. “This is pretty much all hands on deck,” Alameda said. “Everybody’s concerned, and I appreciate the state and the federal government for helping us out.” Hilo Streets Mostly Empty Downtown Hilo was mostly a ghost town Saturday morning. Some shops were boarded up. Others just had sandbags in front of their doors, some of which looked homemade: Garbage bags with some miscellaneous items to weigh them down. Puna Chocolate Company was one of the only stores with its lights on. Though it opened a few hours later than the posted hours, the plan was to close at the normal 11 p.m. Hannah Ham and Hailey Zamudio were behind the counter, sipping coffee and watching the rain pour down outside. “I’ve lived in Hawaiʻi my whole life,” Ham said. “For me, it’s like, if it’s gonna hit, it’s gonna hit. Doesn’t matter where I am.” They had just two customers by 9:30 a.m. Making some tips was worth braving the storm, they said, and their boss was regularly checking in. Spencer Health and Fitness Center was briefly open in the morning, but staff were closing the doors by 10 a.m. The Sack N Save grocery on Haili Street closed its doors at 10 a.m. There were numerous homeless people on Keawe Street and Kamehameha Avenue on Saturday morning. The mayor said the county had done outreach to direct them to shelters. One man Civil Beat spoke to, who declined to give his name, said he didn’t know about shelters. Falling Trees A Concern Invasive trees in Puna pose a risk to humans, structures, and the electrical grid. When Hurricane Iselle made landfall as a tropical storm in 2014, invasive albizias — which originate in Africa, extend as high as 100 feet, and grow up to 15 feet a year — caused an estimated 10s of millions in damage to roads, vehicles and residences. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee calls them “one of the most notorious invasive trees in the state.” Ironwood trees are slower growing but also prone to breaking and falling over in storms. “These non-native trees are brittle and they come down easily in storms,” said Elliott Parsons, a specialist with the Pacific Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network at the University of Hawaiʻi. Some residents rushed to remove albizias this week before the storm, but the cost of paying an arborist to scale the tall trees to remove them is prohibitive for most. Shelters Are Open The county has shelters open at the locations below. Residents should bring their own food, water and any necessary medicine. - Old Kohala Courthouse, 54-3900 ʻAkoni Pule Highway, Kapaʻau - Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria, 68-1730 Hoʻoko St., Waikoloa - Kahilu Theater, 67-1186 Lindsey Road, Waimea - Honokaʻa Gym, 45-541 Lehua St., Honokaʻa - Laupāhoehoe Public Charter School Band Room, 35-2605 Mamalahoa Highway, Laupāhoehoe - Waiākea High School Gym, 155 W. Kawili St., Hilo - Keaʻau Armory, 16-512 Volcano Road, Keaʻau - Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, 15-2910 Kauhale St., Pāhoa - Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala - Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, 95-5545 Mamalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu - Kealakehe High School Gym, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., Kailua-Kona - Yano Hall, 82-6156 Māmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed. Trusted news when you need it most Now more than ever, local news is a vital community resource: connecting neighbors, uplifting voices and sharing information that empowers people to make informed decisions in their everyday lives. Our work is especially critical in times of crises. You can help power our coverage and nonprofit mission with a tax-deductible donation of any amount. Mahalo.

Over 197,000 Hawaiian Electric customers without power across Hawaii UPDATE: Sunday, 9 a.m. Nearly 200,000 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers throughout the state are without electricity today as the company works on assessing the damage and restoring power. In an update this morning, company officials said Tropic Storm Lala’s powerful winds and flooding rains have made it difficult to access troublespots on Hawaii island, Oahu and in Maui County. “Customers should prepare for extended outages lasting weeks or even months in the hardest hit rural areas of Hawaii island,” the company said. “At the height of the storm, on Hawaii island, the company heeded civil defense warnings and stayed off the roads. Work is resuming in areas as hazardous conditions subside,” HECO officials said. They said restoration efforts today will focus on damage assessments and repairs to the main transmission system to enable HECO to reconnect independent power producers to the Big Island grid. Those efforts will include on-the-ground and aerial inspections by helicopter and drones on the Big Island, in Maui County and on Oahu. Don't miss out on what's happening! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE! As of 7 a.m., about 197,400 customers were without electricity, HECO officials said. >> About 110,700 HECO customers on Oahu have no electricity, with the majority in parts of Leeward Oahu and Honolulu, as well as Windward Oahu. >> About 58,000 Hawaii island customers remain without power including all of the east side and south sides of the island plus Waimea and Honokaa. >> Roughly 28,700 customers remain without power in all of West Maui, parts of Upcountry, South and Central Maui, Haiku, as well as areas of Lanai and Molokai. Officials said Hawaiian Electric is part of the Western Region Mutual Assistance Group and will be bringing in crews from other electric utilities to help with restoration. Roughly 100 crew members are anticipated to arrive as early as Tuesday and could begin work as soon as Wednesday. They reminded the public to stay away from downed power lines and other utility equipment. The company also said that 63,188 customers across five islands have had their power restored since Lala started hitting the islands. Oahu’s electrical system has been heavily affected by the heavy rainfall and strong winds. In a news release, HECO requested Oahu customers to conserve electricity use until 10 p.m. today. Large commercial customers have already been asked to reduce electricity usage, according to HECO. “Energy conservation by the public can help ensure sufficient power is available to meet demand,” according to a news release. “Suggested steps include turning off or lessening use of air conditioners, delaying hot showers, laundry, dishwashing activities, and minimizing cooking until later in the evening.” Saturday, 10:10 p.m. Over 88,000 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers were in the dark tonight and company officials said they will bring in out-of-state to help restore power as soon as Hurricane Lala passes the state. HECO said Lala’s hurricane-force wind and rain has impeded their efforts to get the lights turned back on for customers on Hawaii island, Maui and Oahu. “For the safety of crews and the public, restoration work has to halt when the weather gets too dangerous,” they said in a news release. “On Hawaii Island, hazardous conditions on the roadways such as flooding and downed trees have also prompted the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency to ask crews to stay off the roads. Work in Maui County and on Oahu will continue until the storm gets closer to those areas and forces Hawaiian Electric personnel to take shelter.” HECO said that as of 7 p.m.: >> On Hawaii island, 63,270 customers, including all of the east side and south sides of the island plus Waimea and Honokaa, were without power. “Wind gusts near 90 mph have been recorded in some areas as the storm stalled over the island. On the Hamakua coast, wind-toppled trees knocked down multiple poles and structures along a 42-mile span of transmission lines, which will take time to inspect and repair once the weather improves.” >> On Maui, about 15,260 customers were without electricity, including all of West Maui, and parts of Upcountry and South Maui, and Haiku. “These customers should prepare for extended overnight outages. Extreme wind gusts, sometimes topping 80 mph, have battered West Maui for much of the day, preventing any damage assessments to start on the three transmission lines that serve the area. In Upcountry Maui, crews had to pause work where trees and large tree limbs have been falling across roadways due to the severe weather.” >> On Oahu: about 9,500 customers had no power in Aina Haina, Ewa Beach, Kaimuki, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Manoa and Nuuanu. “High winds driven by the approaching hurricane have damaged one major transmission line and half a dozen sub-transmission lines.” Officials said Hawaiian Electric is part of the Western Region Mutual Assistance Group and will be bringing in crews from other electric utilities as early as Tuesday to help with restoration. They said over 67,100 HECO customers across five islands have had power restored today. 4:35 p.m. Hawaiian Electric Co. officials are warning Hawaii island customers that they may have “load shed,” or temporarily turn off power to customers, to maintain system stability and prevent damage to generating units. As of 3 p.m., the company said it had a total of about 44,000 customers with no electricity on Hawaii island, Oahu and in Maui County. HECO officials said four of its independent power providers disconnected from the electrical grid on the Big Island due to damage from Hurricane Lala, which may lead them to y need to “load shed.” The temporary forced outages would only affect Hawaii island, they said. Two of the island’s largest independent power producers, Puna Geothermal Venture and Hamakua Energy Partners, as well as wind energy providers Hawi Renewable Development and Pakini Nui, have also been unable to connect to the island’s grid, HECO said. In a 4 p.m. update, the company “strongly urges customers to plan for possible extended outages, potentially overnight, as the storm system makes its way westward across the island chain at least through tomorrow.” Officials said that as of 3 p.m.: >> About 32,300 customers are without power in Hilo, Kona, Kohala, Hamakua, and Puna. On the Hamakua coast, wind-toppled trees knocked down multiple poles and structures along a 42-mile span of transmission lines. Wind gusts upward of 70 mph have been recorded in parts of the island. >> Roughly 3,300 customers are without power in parts of Upcountry Maui, Haiku, as well as pockets in West and South Maui and Molokai. Extreme wind gusts, often upward of 70 mph, have been battering West Maui since noon. >> And on Oahu, about 8,400 customers are without power in Aina Haina, Kaimuk, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Manoa and Nuuanu. Over 42,000 Hawaiian Electric customers have had their power restored today, they said. 12:25 p.m. Hawaiian Electric said over 23,000 customers were without power as of late this morning as wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded in parts of Hawaii island and West Maui. Downed trees and debris blown into power lines are the primary causes of the outages, HECO said. Company officials said that as of 11 a.m.: >> About 18,700 Hawaii island customers are without electricity in north and south Hilo, north and south Kohala, Hamakua and Puna. On the Hamakua coast, crews were assessing a 42-mile span of transmission lines after fallen trees knocked down multiple poles and structures. >> About 5,180 Maui customers are without power in the Upcountry areas of Makawao, Pukalani and Kula, as well as a part of Haiku and Puukolii in West Maui. >> Also, about 150 Oahu customers don’t have electricity, with nearly 1,300 restored since the onset of the storm. Officials said in a news release that crews restored power to 20,240 customers on Big Island and 730 in Maui County whose power was knocked out by the winds and rain overnight and this morning. “However, restoration work may need to pause as weather conditions intensify and make it unsafe for crew members and customers in the area,” they cautioned. Customers can call HECO’s trouble lines to report downed power lines: Hawaii island, 855-304-9191; Maui County, 855-304-8181; and Oahu, 855-304-1212 PREVIOUS COVERAGE Hawaiian Electric reports over 4,000 customers were without power this morning on Hawaii island where Lala is beginning to hit with heavy rain and powerful winds. Customers should continue to plan for possible extended outages as the storm system makes its way across the island chain, company officials said in a news release this morning. The company said, as of 9 a.m.: >> About 4,050 customers were without power, mainly in Puna, North and South Kohala and South Hilo. Another 940 customers werewithout power in the Waimea/Sunset area. >> Electricity was out for roughly 160 customers in Upcountry Maui. >> And on Oahu, just over 100 customers in Hawaii Kai have lost power. HECO officials said crews are standing ready and prepared to begin damage assessments as soon as it is safe to do so, but that customers should be prepared for extended outages as Lala moves past the islands this weekend. They also warn the public to avoid any downed power lines.

- i24NEWS - International - America - Hurricane Lala brings heavy rains and power outages to Hawaii Hurricane Lala brings heavy rains and power outages to Hawaii More than 40,000 households are without electricity, while authorities fear floods and potentially deadly mudslides. Hurricane Lala is hitting the Big Island of Hawaii with heavy rains and strong winds, while authorities warn of floods and potentially deadly mudslides. More than 40,000 households were without power on Saturday night. Lala strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane, with winds around 120 km/h. A hurricane warning is in effect for Hawaii County, which covers the Big Island, while a tropical storm warning covers the seven other main islands of the archipelago. Forecasts expect between 25 and 50 centimeters of rain on the Big Island, with accumulations possibly exceeding 60 centimeters in some areas. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warns that these rains could trigger flash floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous areas. Governor Josh Green has declared a state of emergency to facilitate the deployment of relief and logistical resources. He urged residents to secure their homes, stock essential supplies, and follow official instructions. Hurricanes rarely make direct landfall in Hawaii. If Lala does reach land, it would be only the third hurricane in modern history to strike the archipelago, after Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992. Authorities are closely monitoring its evolution, as an especially active hurricane season is expected in the Pacific this year.

Summary: Supervised AI Tropical storm Lala has become a category 1 hurricane, the third similar phenomenon of the season in the Pacific. With winds up to 120 km/h, it has struck parts of Hawaii, causing damage to buildings and at least one death. Hawaii Governor Josh Green reported that 19 buildings have lost their roofs and more than 60,000 people are without power. Although landfall is not expected, Lala’s effects are being felt intensely. The Hawaii County mayor has urged residents to seek shelter, and more than 190 flights have been delayed. Damage assessment will begin on Monday. * Journalist-supervised summary. Tropical storm Lala is already a category 1 hurricane. It is now the third such phenomenon recorded this season in the Pacific. With sustained maximum winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, and as reported by CNN, it has battered parts of Hawaii, damaging buildings and leaving at least one dead in an incident related to this phenomenon. This is how Hawaii Governor Josh Green explained it in a video in which he detailed the hurricane’s impact on the archipelago with data. At least 19 buildings are without roofs, and more than 60,000 people are without electricity. Lala approached the island of Hawaii (the Big Island) around 05:00 local time, brushing the southern part from about 48 kilometers away. Its winds are expected to affect this area of the archipelago significantly. Throughout the early morning, winds and rain persisted on the Big Island and Maui County. They are expected to spread westward toward Oahu and Kauai, according to the NHC. Although landfall is not expected, Lala’s impact is being felt strongly in the islands. Kiko Alameda, mayor of Hawaii County, has urged residents to seek shelter while more than 190 flights to and from Hawaii have been delayed. The archipelago’s governor has confirmed that the damage assessment will begin on Monday, as emergency crews continue to attend to the urgent needs arising from Lala. Had it made landfall, it would have been the first hurricane to do so in more than 30 years.

Hurricane Lala was moving away from the island of Hawaii (Big Island) on Sunday, August 16, but torrential rains and strong winds were battering the archipelago, with authorities warning of potentially dangerous flooding in this American Pacific island state. “Destructive winds will continue to blow over the Big Island through the night,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said at 8:00 p.m. local time (2:00 a.m. France time on Sunday), warning that the coast would be hit by “powerful and dangerous waves.” Lala strengthened to hurricane status as a Category 1 around 9:00 a.m. (3:00 p.m. Paris time), with winds up to 120 kilometers per hour. But the hurricane “appears to have reached its peak intensity as it passed near the Big Island,” according to the NHC. “The hurricane will remain strong for a few more hours but is expected to weaken Sunday as it moves away from the Big Island,” according to the same agency. A tropical storm warning was also in effect for the state’s seven other main islands: Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. Heavy rainfall is expected on the Big Island. These downpours “will cause flooding and potentially deadly mudslides, especially in rugged terrain areas,” officials warned. Power outages affected more than 20,000 homes in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon as meteorological services confirmed that “destructive winds” and “heavy rains” were sweeping across the Big Island, an island known for surfing and tourism. With 210,000 residents, the Big Island, also called “Hawaii Island,” is the second most populated in the archipelago, far behind Oahu, which is home to more than a million people and the capital Honolulu. Hurricane Lala sent “strong bands of rain” to the coasts on Saturday afternoon as residents prepared for the storm’s arrival, authorities said, warning of flash floods. It is rare for hurricanes to reach Hawaii. If Lala makes landfall as currently expected, it will become the third hurricane in modern history to reach the U.S. Pacific territory, after Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992. Iniki caused six deaths and damage amounting to billions of dollars. In response to the threat, Governor Josh Green had proclaimed a state of emergency on Thursday, a administrative measure facilitating disaster relief preparation and response. “Tropical Storm Lala poses a grave threat to our state, particularly the island of Hawaii—and we are taking action now to ensure resources are available where they are needed,” the governor said in a statement. “I urge everyone to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review the family emergency plan, and monitor updates from reliable official sources,” he added. This year’s particularly strong El Niño phenomenon is warming the equatorial Pacific and increasing the likelihood of cyclones. Meteorologists anticipate a much more active hurricane season than average for the region. Scientists regularly warn that climate change, driven by humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels, is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Le Monde with AFP

Hawaii: heavy rain, strong winds and power outages… Hurricane Lala brushes the archipelago The American state is facing severe weather, brushed overnight by Hurricane Lala. Potentially dangerous flooding now threatens Hawaii. It had been threatening for several hours and is now hitting the main island of Hawaii. Tonight, Hurricane Lala reached the American island state, bringing heavy rain and strong winds, before potentially dangerous flooding across the islands. Lala intensified to hurricane status of Category 1 around 9:00 PM local time yesterday (French time), with winds up to 120 km/h. Even before making landfall, the first gusts caused Saturday power outages with more than 40,000 households without electricity overnight, according to the PowerOutage.us site. Hurricane 48 km from shore A hurricane warning was in effect for Hawaii County, which covers the Big Island, and a tropical storm warning had been issued for the other seven main islands of the state. In the afternoon, Lala approached within 48 km southwest of South Point on the Big Island, but did not make landfall. “Conditions related to the hurricane will persist on the island of Hawaii through the night, with the most violent winds expected over rugged terrain,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said at 8:00 PM local time, warning that the coast would be hit by “large and dangerous waves.” “Potentially deadly mudslides” The hurricane is moving northwest and this general track is expected to hold overnight, according to NHC officials. “A gradual turn toward the west, accompanied by an acceleration in forward speed, is expected on Sunday, as the storm’s core will remain south of the main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands until early next week,” they added. “These rainfall events will cause flooding and potentially deadly mudslides, especially in steep terrain,” the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its 2:00 AM advisory. Hurricane Lala sent “heavy bands of rain” to the coasts Saturday afternoon as residents prepared for the storm’s arrival, authorities said, cautioning about flash floods. It is rare for hurricanes to reach Hawaii. If Lala makes landfall as currently forecast, it will become only the third hurricane in modern history to reach the Pacific territory, after Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992. The latter left six dead and billions of dollars in damage. State of emergency declared In response to the threat, Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency on Thursday, an administrative measure to facilitate relief efforts and the measures to be triggered in case of destruction. “Storm tropical Lala poses a grave threat to our state, especially the island of Hawaii, and we are acting now to ensure that resources are available where they are needed,” the governor said in a statement. “I urge everyone to secure their home, gather essential supplies, review their family emergency plan, and follow updates from reliable official sources,” he added. A consequence of climate change Particularly strong this year, the El Niño phenomenon is warming the equatorial Pacific and increasing the likelihood of cyclones. Meteorologists expect a much more active-than-average hurricane season in the region. Scientists regularly warn that climate change, driven by humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels, is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events.

In short: Although downgraded, Lala caused numerous damages; More than 130,000 households were left without power; At least one death has occurred; Tropical storm warnings remain in effect on several islands of the archipelago. The storm reached hurricane strength as it approached the Big Island on Saturday, before being downgraded after brushing past it the following day. Its eye passed very close to its southern tip without actually making landfall. According to the National Hurricane Center, the mountainous areas are those expected to be swept by the strongest gusts in the coming hours as Lala progressively weakens. Roofs torn off More than 100,000 households were temporarily without electricity, while roofs were ripped away by Lala’s fury. Air travel was also disrupted, with 190 flights postponed. While waves with white crests crashed relentlessly onto the shore, the rain falling nearly horizontally raised water levels. Continuing on its path westward, Lala remains a source of concern. Tropical storm warnings were still in effect for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau on Sunday. It’s far from postcard-perfect imagery! Very rare in Hawaii Although tropical phenomena are common in Hawaii, it is unusual for a hurricane to sweep the coasts of the archipelago’s second most populated island, after Oahu. If the hurricane had made landfall, it would have been the first in 155 years to directly strike the state’s largest island, where about 210,000 people live. Among notable recent storms, mention Hurricane Douglas, which brushed Oahu in 2020, and Olivia, which made landfall in northwestern Maui as a tropical storm in 2018. Nevertheless, this year is expected to bring a more active hurricane season than average in the region due to El Niño, which heats the equatorial Pacific. As scientists stress, the frequency and intensity of extreme events are likely to increase due to climate change. (Sources: Agence France-Presse, The Guardian, CBC) ALSO TO SEE: Super El Niño: historic heat and consequences in Quebec

One person was killed in a storm-related car crash as Hurricane Lala brought fierce winds and pouring rain to Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday. Footage on social media showed floodwaters rising, overtaking roadways and bridges as Lala dumped rain on Hawaii’s Big Island. Howling winds whipped the tops of palm trees and waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff from relentless rain that blew nearly sideways. According to the National Weather Service’s Honolulu office, two homes were swept away due to intense rainfall over Naalehu, with flash flooding ongoing. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said in an Instagram post that “several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations” amid flash flooding in the Alihu and Waiheno areas, with a search and rescue mission underway. More than 125,000 utility customers in the state, mostly on the Big Island, were without electricity, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us. The National Hurricane Center warned of damaging winds and heavy rain across the Big Island and Maui County overnight, spreading westward into Sunday. Maximum sustained winds near 75 mph with higher gusts were recorded as the storm advanced. Forecasters expected hurricane conditions to persist on the Big Island of Hawaii overnight, producing 10 to 20 inches of rain, with maximum totals of 25 inches possible. A flash flood warning was issued for the Kau District of the Big Island. “Hurricane Lala is passing just south of Hawaiʻi Island, where winds are peaking and some areas have already received more than 13 inches of rain,” Gov. Josh Green said on X. “Conditions are worsening across Maui County, Oʻahu and Kaua‘i tonight.” Green, speaking in a video update, said he’s started the process that will lead to the declaration of a major disaster. He did not provide further details about the fatality. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said at a news conference that search and rescue crews were working in dire conditions at Oahu’s Lulumahu Falls Trail to find a hiker. Additionally, Honolulu Ocean Safety Department Director Kurt Lager said lifeguards made 59 rescues Saturday. He urged people not to get in the water on Sunday. “It’s not a day to come to the beach,” he said at the news conference. “It’s not a day to go paddling or surfing.” The most inundated part of the island is its windward or eastern side, with higher elevations getting both precipitation and the strongest winds, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in a video update on Saturday. The possibility the island could witness its first direct hit from a hurricane in 155 years faded as the eye of the storm passed the island’s southern tip. Landfall is not expected at this point, said National Weather Service meteorologist Joseph Clark. Earlier, the hurricane center said Lala’s maximum sustained winds had increased to 75 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane. Sustained winds were clocked at 49 mph Saturday night, with one gust reaching 73 mph, the hurricane center said. The eye wall was forecast to move over or near the island’s southern end by the evening, lashing its worst winds at volcanic slopes thousands of feet above sea level. Forecasters said higher elevations on the island, dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could get as much as 25 inches of rain. That could cause life-threatening mudslides in a mountainous area where people live off the grid in improvised housing, and authorities urged them to find safe shelters quickly. Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident of the Big Island, said he planned to “hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don’t go out” at a care home just outside Hilo. He said gas stations were busy as people sought fuel for chain saws and vehicles. “I think stocking up is part of life over here. ... You learn to be self-reliant,” Camara said. Green described it as an “enormous storm” and warned of destructive flooding and even the possibility of wildfires kicked up by strong winds across the island chain. Electricity was knocked out for 10% of customers on the Big Island, according to poweroutage.us. Mike Caputo, who lives in Keaau, near the island’s east coast, said the main concern was flash flooding and fallen trees, especially albizia, a common tree. “They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large,” said Caputo, 50, a local fire captain. “They can make roads impassable. I made sure my trees were trimmed a few days ago.” The Big Island was under a hurricane warning, and tropical storm warnings were issued for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. A Category 3 hurricane hit the northeast corner of the Big Island in 1871, according to research by a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist. The latest forecast has Lala striking “very close to the southern tip of the Big Island,” said Vanessa Almanza, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Honolulu. Shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures, rather than structures that might collapse. “It doesn’t take landfall to create destruction,” Almanza said. The hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 inches of total rainfall across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4 to 6 inches across the island chain. Officials urge taking the storm seriously State Rep. Jeanné Kapela called for people to remain alert. The southern end of the island is remote and rural, with agriculture including coffee and cattle, but it’s growing in population because of its affordability. Kapela was especially worried about people who live off the grid. “If you feel now that your house doesn’t have a great roof or might not be able to withstand hurricane force winds, then first things first you go to a family or friend’s house and you kind of hunker down there,” she said in a text message to The Associated Press. Many Hawaiians are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods in March. Growers still recovering are worried about more damage, according to Hawaii Farm Bureau Director Brian Miyamoto. Wildfire risks increase during windy weather As winds ramped up across the islands, Almanza said dry and breezy conditions outside the storm would elevate fire concerns. In 2023, the Maui town of Lahaina burned during extreme winds as a hurricane passed far to the south. “Since the fire, everybody is way more aware of weather in general and our environment and things that are happening,” said Archie Kalepa of Lahaina, who is well known in the area for his surfing, paddling and other ocean skills. Kauai, which is several islands northwest up the archipelago from the Big Island, is where Hurricane Iniki made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in 1992 — an El Niño year like this one, when a warming of the Pacific near the equator increases Pacific hurricane activity and affects weather patterns across the globe. “It did $3 billion worth of damage. It destroyed thousands of homes, and it did kill six people,” said Steven Businger, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Hawaii. “We just can never know if a storm is going to turn.”

Hurricane Lala approached Hawaii with strong winds and heavy rain on Saturday, leaving more than 40,000 utility customers without power across the state as the National Hurricane Center warned of “life-threatening” conditions. The poweroutage.com website showed 42,889 customers without power as of 2:14 p.m. in Hawaii, including 31,792 on the Big Island and 7,203 in Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai. An advisory from the hurricane center at 2 p.m. HST predicted 10 to 20 inches of rain on the Big Island, and possibly up to 25 inches there, as well as 8 to 12 inches in eastern Maui and 4 to 6 inches in western Maui. “This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the center said. Hawaiian Electric warned customers to expect “possible extended outages, potentially overnight,” as the storm system made its way westward across Hawaii. On the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island, utility crews were assessing a 42-mile span of transmission lines after fallen trees knocked down multiple poles and structures, Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai told TV station Hawaii News Now. Earlier in the day, the US National Hurricane Center said Lala’s maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane. The Maunakea Weather Center, on the Big Island’s tallest peak, recorded wind gusts of more than 100 mph throughout the early afternoon, although winds would have been slower closer to sea level. The Hawaii Department of Transportation said it was closing Hilo International Airport and would close Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole at 2 p.m. HST. The department also closed the Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kaua‘i commercial ports. A downed utility pole hovers above a highway as Hurricane Lala strikes near Ocean View, Hawaii, on Aug. 15, 2026. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images A man holding an umbrella carries supplies out of a store as Hurricane Lala strikes Hawaii on Aug. 15, 2026. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Floodwaters overtake a rural road in Volcano Village on Hawaii Island on Aug. 15, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

Lala is again a tropical storm, sending drenching rain and winds across Hawaii Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making landfall, but it wasn't done punishing the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts. Total rainfall of nearly three feet (one meter) was expected on the higher windward slopes, turning rivers into raging torrents and threatening mudslides. Tropical storm conditions were spreading westward Sunday from Maui to Oahu and then Kauai, and the National Hurricane Center warned that wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds used to categorize storms. Powerful waves pounded the Big Island's coast as Lala slowly passed by. Howling winds whipped palm trees and waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff from relentless rain that blew nearly sideways. More than 130,000 households were without power Sunday morning across Hawaii's three largest islands, according to the utility tracker poweroutage.us. At least three hospitals were operating on generator power, Gov. Josh Green said. At least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island, while 19 roofs were lost in the "enormous storm," the governor said Saturday evening. "There have been a lot of roads impacted, our crews have already been out to more than 30 sites." A search-and-rescue mission including Civil Defense, the National Guard and Coast Guard was launched after flash floods apparently swept several occupied homes off their foundations in the coastal communities of Na'alehu and Wai'ohinu, near the island's southern tip, Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said early Sunday. "What makes this very challenging is that there's rushing water, there's debris, and there's boulders on the road and it's dark," Alameda said. What's next for Lala Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau as the storm moves west, raising the possibility of destructive flooding and even wildfires kicked up by strong winds. As of 2 a.m. Sunday in Hawaii, Lala was centered about 105 miles (170 kilometers) west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Honolulu, with tropical-storm-force winds extending as much as 175 miles (280 km) from its center. Lala was sustaining top winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and moving northwest at about 15 mph (24 kmh). Forecasters expect it to regain hurricane strength midweek once it's well west of the island chain. By the time Lala's completely gone, some higher-altitude places on the Big Island, dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, will have been hit with as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain, forecasters said, enough to loosen steep slopes where some of the 210,000 islanders live off the grid in improvised housing. Residents prepared for worst As the hurricane approached, shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures rather than structures that might collapse. Many residents are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods in March and were taking precautions. Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, said he planned to "hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don't go out" at a care home just outside Hilo. He said gas stations were busy as people sought fuel for chain saws and vehicles. "I think stocking up is part of life over here. ... You learn to be self-reliant," Camara said. Mike Caputo, who lives in Keaau, near the Big Island's east coast, said his power generator was ready and a 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) home water tank was full. His main concern was flash flooding and fallen trees, especially albizia, a common tree. "They're not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large," said Caputo, 50, a local fire captain. "They can make roads impassable." Warnings posted everywhere Christine Matsuda, who lives in Waimea, on the northern side of the island, said "big gusts every few minutes rattle the whole house." "We're finding unexpected leaks in places that don't see water under normal conditions," Matsuda said. The hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 centimeters) of total rainfall across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) across the island chain.

English version: Hurricane Lala Brings Winds, Rain and Power Outages to Hawaii According to BBC News, Hurricane Lala, a Category 1 storm, is striking the southern end of Hawaii with strong winds and heavy rain, prompting a hurricane warning for the Big Island and tropical storm warnings for Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The storm reached hurricane-force intensity on Saturday, with winds up to 80 mph (130 km/h). The National Hurricane Center said at 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday that Lala’s eye wall was touching the southern part of the Big Island. It added that destructive winds and heavy rains would continue across the Big Island overnight before spreading westward to the smaller islands on Sunday. Lala was moving at nine miles per hour and is expected to continue until Saturday morning before turning west. Forecasters said the hurricane could bring as much as 25 inches (63 cm) of rain to the Big Island, with a storm surge of up to 3 feet. Officials warned of life-threatening floods, while the National Weather Service said heavy flooding from the rains could require evacuations and rescues in the southeastern areas of the island. It also noted that rivers and tributaries could overflow their banks rapidly. Governor Josh Green said one person died in a car accident and urged residents not to travel on the roads. By Saturday evening, more than 85,000 customers had lost power across Hawaii, and dozens of flights were canceled. At Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, 40% of flights were stopped, while 80% were canceled at Hilo International Airport. Hilo meteorologist Jennifer Meyers said landslides had blocked some roads and falling trees had knocked down power lines. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said public shelters are available in every county on the Big Island, as residents were urged to complete storm preparations and focus on shelter plans. Subscribe to get the latest news to your inbox.

Hurricane Lala was moving away from the island of Hawaii (Big Island) on Sunday, but torrential rains and strong winds were battering the state, and authorities warned residents about potentially dangerous flooding in this American Pacific island state. Destructive winds will continue to blow over the Big Island during the night, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said at 8 p.m. local time, warning that the coastline would be hit by powerful and dangerous waves. Lala strengthened to hurricane strength of category 1 around 9 a.m., with winds up to 120 km/h. But the hurricane appears to have reached its peak intensity as it passed near the Big Island, according to the NHC. The hurricane will remain strong for a few more hours, but should weaken Sunday as it moves away from the Big Island. A tropical storm warning was also in effect for Hawaii’s seven other major islands: Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. Rainfall on the Big Island is expected to total 76 to 89 cm. The heavy downpours will cause flooding and potentially deadly mudslides, especially in the rugged, mountainous areas, authorities said. Power outages affected more than 20,000 households in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon, as weather services confirmed that destructive winds and heavy rains were sweeping the Big Island. With 210,000 residents, the Big Island is the second most populous in the archipelago, well behind Oahu, which is home to more than a million people and whose capital is Honolulu. Hurricane Lala sent heavy bands of rain ashore on Saturday afternoon as residents prepared for the storm’s arrival, authorities said, warning them about flash floods. A satellite image shows Tropical Storm Lala over the Pacific Ocean, in this screenshot from a time-lapse video captured between August 12 and 13, 2026. Photo: Reuters / CSU/CIRA & NOAA. State of Emergency. It is rare for hurricanes to reach Hawaii. In modern history, two hurricanes have touched down on this Pacific territory: Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992. The latter caused six deaths and damages amounting to billions of dollars. Faced with this threat, Governor Josh Green proclaimed a state of emergency on Thursday, an administrative measure that facilitates relief preparations and the measures to be triggered in case of destruction. Tropical Storm Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly the island of Hawaii—and we are acting now to ensure that resources are available where they are needed, the governor said in a statement. I urge everyone to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review the family emergency plan, and follow updates from reliable official sources. This year’s strong El Niño is warming the equatorial Pacific and increasing the likelihood of cyclones. Meteorologists expect a much more active hurricane season than average for the region. Scientists say climate change, driven by humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels, is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events.

It is rare for hurricanes to reach Hawaii. Lala does not seem to have broken the rule, after brushing past the big island, the tropical storm moved away. The hurricane Lala was moving away from the island of Hawaii (Big Island) on Sunday, but torrential rains and strong winds were battering the state and authorities warned of potentially dangerous floods in this Pacific American island state. “Conditions related to the hurricane will persist on the island of Hawaii overnight, with the strongest winds expected over the terrain,” said the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 8:00 p.m. local time (6:00 a.m. GMT Sunday), warning that the coastline would be hit by “powerful and dangerous waves.” Lala intensified to hurricane strength of Category 1 around 9:00 a.m. (19:00 GMT), with winds up to 120 km/h. For its 50th eruptive crisis in 18 months, Kilauea projected lava fountains 300 meters high, filmed live and continuously by scientists. But the hurricane “appears to have reached its peak intensity while passing near the Big Island,” according to the NHC. “The hurricane will remain strong for a few more hours but is expected to weaken Sunday as it moves away from the Big Island,” according to the same agency. A tropical storm alert was also in effect for the other seven main islands of Hawaii: Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. Precipitation of around 76 to 89 cm of rain is expected on the Big Island. Big Island, renowned for surfing and tourism. Lala is expected to dump between 25 to 50 cm of rain on the Big Island, with totals exceeding 60 centimeters. Heavy rainfall “will cause flooding and potentially deadly mudslides, particularly in rugged, hilly areas,” authorities warned. Power outages affected more than 20,000 households in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon, as meteorological services confirmed that “destructive winds” and heavy rain were sweeping across the Big Island, an island known for surfing and tourism. With a population of 210,000, the Big Island is the second-most populous in the archipelago, far behind Oahu, which is home to more than a million people and the capital Honolulu. Hurricane Lala sent “heavy bands of rain” onto the coasts on Saturday afternoon as residents prepared for the storm’s arrival, authorities said, warning of flash floods. It is rare for hurricanes to reach Hawaii. If Lala makes landfall as predicted, it will become only the third hurricane in modern history to reach U.S. Pacific territory, after Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992. The latter caused six deaths and damages amounting to billions of dollars. In a state of emergency. Facing this threat, Governor Josh Green proclaimed a state of emergency on Thursday, a bureaucratic measure to facilitate relief preparations and actions to trigger in case of destruction. “Tropical Storm Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly the island of Hawaii—and we are acting now to ensure that resources are available where they are needed,” the governor said in a statement. “I urge everyone to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review the family emergency plan, and follow updates from reliable official sources,” he added. The El Niño phenomenon, particularly strong this year, is warming the equatorial Pacific and increasing the likelihood of cyclones. Meteorologists expect a much more active hurricane season than average in the region. The World Meteorological Organization predicts a rapid strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon by September, increasing the risks of extreme weather conditions worldwide. Scientists regularly warn that climate change, driven by humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels, increases the frequency and intensity of extreme events. Related topics. You have chosen to refuse cookies. Yet, like subscriptions, they help support the work of the 250 journalists on our editorial team who are committed to bringing you daily high-quality, reliable, and comprehensive information. By accepting cookies, you will gain access to the free content and features offered by our site. At any time, you can modify your choices via the “cookies” button at the bottom of the page.

Hurricane Lala brushes Hawaii's Big Island and brings heavy rains The eye of Hurricane Lala skimmed the southern part of Hawaii's Big Island, while strong rains and intense winds battered this U.S. Pacific state since Saturday. Authorities warn of possible dangerous flooding. “Conditions for a hurricane will persist on the Big Island through the night, with the strongest winds expected in higher elevation areas,” the National Hurricane Center said at 8:00 PM local time (Sunday 6:00 AM GMT), warning that the coast would be hit by “large and dangerous waves.” Lala strengthened on Saturday into a Category 1 hurricane, generating winds up to 120 kilometers per hour. The hurricane approached Hawaii County, which covers the Big Island, and a tropical storm warning was issued for the state’s other seven main islands: Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. Lala moved to about 48 km southwest of South Point on the Big Island in the afternoon, but did not make landfall. In the early hours of the day, “a gradual turn toward the west with an increase in forward speed is expected on Sunday, while the storm’s core remains south of the smaller main Hawaiian islands and the more eastern Northwestern Hawaiian Islands during the first part of the coming week,” they added. The Big Island is the second-most populous in the archipelago, with about 210,000 residents, behind Oahu, which has more than a million people. The rains will “trigger flooding and landslides that threaten lives, especially in rugged terrain,” the National Weather Service warned. Electrical outages were reported affecting more than 20,000 people in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon, and meteorologists confirmed “harmful winds and heavy rains” extending across the Big Island, famous for surfing and tourism. Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that the Big Island could see rainfall exceeding 60 centimeters and a storm surge with “dangerous waves.” A strong El Niño phenomenon has formed in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, with temperatures so high that NOAA forecasts a 69% probability of “a historic event that would surpass the intensity of prior El Niño episodes since 1950,” between October and December. Scientists regularly warn that climate change, driven by humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels, has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme events. ia-sst/mjf/lb/vel/cjc/mas/pb/avl

- Hurricane Lala brushed the southern part of the island of Hawaii on Saturday, August 14. - It was expected to dump between 25 and 50 cm of rain on the Big Island, with “flooding and potentially deadly mudslides,” authorities warned. The eye of Hurricane Lala brushed the southern part of Hawaii Island (Big Island) on Saturday, August 15, as torrential rains and violent winds battered the state. Authorities warned of potentially dangerous flooding in this American Pacific island state. "Conditions related to the hurricane will persist on the island of Hawaii overnight, with the strongest winds expected on the higher terrain," the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said at 8:00 p.m. local time, warning that the coast would be struck by “powerful and dangerous waves.” Lala intensified to hurricane status of Category 1 around 9:00 a.m., with winds up to 120 km/h. The hurricane was approaching Hawaii County, which covers the “Big Island,” also known as the Island of Hawaii, while a tropical storm warning remained in effect for the other seven main islands of the state: Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. In the afternoon, Lala approached to less than 48 kilometers southwest of South Point on the Big Island, though it did not make landfall. "Destructive winds" and "heavy rain" The hurricane is moving northwest, and this general track is expected to persist overnight, officials at the NHC said. "A gradual turn toward the west, accompanied by an acceleration in forward speed, is expected on Sunday, as the storm’s core remains south of the main and northeastern Hawaiian islands until early next week," they added. Lala is expected to dump between 25 and 50 cm of rain on the Big Island, with totals exceeding 60 centimeters. The heavy rainfall "will cause flooding and potentially deadly mudslides, especially in hilly or rugged terrain" authorities warned. Power outages affected more than 20,000 homes in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon. Weather services confirmed that "destructive winds" and "heavy rains" were sweeping across the Big Island, an island known for surfing and tourism. Also read "The situation is very serious": a dam threatens to fail in Hawaii, more than 5,000 people evacuated With 210,000 residents, the Big Island is the second most populous in the archipelago, far behind Oahu, which houses more than a million people and the capital Honolulu. It is rare for hurricanes to reach Hawaii. If Lala makes landfall as expected, it will be only the third hurricane in modern history to reach the U.S. Pacific territory, after Dot in 1959 and Iniki in 1992. The latter killed six people and caused damage worth billions of dollars.

Hawaii10:55 a.m. Aug. 16 Live Updates: Lala Lashes Hawaii With Heavy Rain and Wind but Avoids Landfall About 200,000 customers were without power from the storm, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane early Sunday. Forecasters and local officials warned of flooding and urged residents to stay put. Latest Residents of Hawaii woke on Sunday morning to toppled trees, flooded streets and electrical outages as Lala, a former hurricane that was downgraded before dawn to a tropical storm, passed just south of the islands without making landfall. The overnight onslaught of pouring rain and strong winds continued, with the National Weather Service warning of dangerous floods, mudslides and storm surges that could rise up to two feet on Oahu and Kauai, possibly accompanied by large, dangerous waves. More than 200,000 customers were without power as of 9:30 a.m. local time, according to Poweroutage.us, a utility tracker. The National Hurricane Center said at 8 a.m. local time that rainfall totals could reach up to 35 inches in some areas of the Big Island. Gov. Josh Green urged people to shelter in place. “Please be very safe,” he said in a video posted on social media. “You definitely want to be home. Do not be out on the roads.” Though the storm narrowly missed making landfall, forecasters warned that the damage could still be significant. Maui, Oahu and Kauai remained under tropical storm warnings on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said, but the tropical storm warning for the Big Island was discontinued at 8 a.m. A flash flood warning was still in effect for Oahu, as well as flood advisories for Maui and the Big Island, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Here’s what else we’re covering: Driving death: A 45-year-old man was killed on Saturday when he crossed the center of the road in his car and collided with a car driven by a 21-year-old woman, who is in critical condition, the Hawaii Police Department said in a statement on Sunday. It was unclear if the weather had played a role, the police said. Outages expected: Hawaii’s largest power company warned customers to prepare for outages that could last for days. The majority of the outages were Oahu, the most populated island. Crews could not begin repairing power lines until the strong winds had subsided, Mayor Kimo Alameda of Hawaii County said. Read more › Storm preparations: Residents on the Big Island, home to about 210,000 people, stocked up on supplies like propane gas and staples like rice and bread before the storm. Several shelters opened across the island. Read more › Travel disrupted: The two busiest airports on the Big Island — Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport — shut down on Saturday. Many flights at both airports had already been canceled. Both airports were expected to reopen on Sunday. Pooja Salhotra, Amy Graff, Orlando Mayorquín and Mack Liederman contributed reporting. Reporting from Oahu Conditions are soggy this morning on the North Shore of Oahu. The strong winds that buffeted Haleiwa through the night appear to have backed off, but heavy rains continue at intervals. Fallen trees blocked the major entry points to Haleiwa this morning, but had been cleared by 9 a.m. Zoe Woods, 18, and Kiely Kaneali, 19, were some of the first on the scene to help clear a large tamarind tree limb that obstructed both lanes of Kamehameha Highway, the main thoroughfare through town. And they stayed to rake up debris after city and county crews did the major chainsaw work. “We live just down the road,” they said. “We’re cleaning so it’s out of the way — and looks nicer.” The roads were mostly empty at 9 a.m., and businesses, including gas stations, remained closed due to power outages. Traffic lights remained out in Haleiwa, Wahiawa, and Mililani as of 10 a.m. Some of the worst storm damage may have occurred in rural areas along the southern edge of Ka’u, the largest district on the Big Island of Hawaii. Mayor Kimo Alameda of Hawaii County said in a video statement early Sunday that because of flash flooding in the area, “several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations,” and a search-and-rescue mission was underway. “What makes this very challenging is that there’s rushing water, there’s debris, and there’s boulders in the road, and it’s dark,” he said, adding that dozens of evacuees were sheltering in schools and gyms. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAs Tropical Storm Lala continued to pummel Hawaii, about 200,000 homes and businesses were already without power on Sunday and faced days without electricity because the storm downed the transmission lines that connect power plants to homes and businesses, the state’s primary electric utility said. The storm damaged 16 transmission lines on the island of Hawaii, known as the Big Island, which took the first hit from the storm, according to the utility, Hawaiian Electric. More than half of the utility’s customers on the island, which is largely rural, were without power on Sunday. The damaged transmission lines include one that runs for 42 miles on the Big Island. In addition to downed power lines, the storm also caused damage to many of the large structures that carry the transmission lines on the Big Island and Oahu, the utility said. As the storm approached Oahu early Sunday, tens of thousands of customers began losing power. More than 130,000 customers on Oahu, the chain’s most populous island, lost power by Sunday morning. The utility is assessing how many transmission lines are down on that island. Still, the biggest challenge for crews working to restore power across the state remained on the Big Island because of widespread flooding and the difficulty that crews would encounter as they traveled rural roads. Damage to some neighborhood power lines could take weeks to repair, the utility said. “I just hope people can be patient,” said Jim Kelly, a spokesman for Hawaiian Electric who was himself without power on Oahu. “This isn’t going to be a 24-hour turnaround.” The utility company requested assistance from utility crews on the mainland, but with the storm continuing to pound the state and dangerous flooding making some roadways impassable, even many of Hawaiian Electric’s crews remained on the sidelines. “Once Tropical Storm Lala has passed and conditions are safe, our crews will begin assessing damage and restoring service as quickly and safely as possible,” Shari Ishikawa, Hawaiian Electric’s incident commander, said in a statement before the storm hit. The utility was giving priority to restoring electricity to critical services, including hospitals and the state’s water supply. Some of those facilities lack backup power and rely on the power company to keep their operations running. One concern that Mr. Kelly had raised even before the storm arrived appeared to be proven true: As Lala crossed the Big Island, it toppled the towering Albizia trees that have shallow root systems but can reach 100 feet. The high winds and rain made them vulnerable, and pictures from crews and social media indicated that the trees landed on utility equipment, Mr. Kelly said. “I think the focus is going to be trying to help Hawaii Island,” he said. The H-1 freeway into downtown Honolulu has reopened after it had closed because of flooding, said Jim Kelly, a spokesman for Hawaiian Electric, the state’s primary electric utility. As we pass 8 a.m. in Hawaii, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update that the tropical storm warning for Hawaii County had been discontinued but that heavy rain and gusty winds were continuing across parts of Maui County and Oahu. Tropical Storm Lala was expected to turn westward “soon” and pass south of Kauai County later today, where conditions were deteriorating, the center said. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENTReporting from Oahu Downed trees blocked access to Haleiwa, on Oahu’s North Shore, this morning, and there were power outages throughout the community and neighboring Waialua. But local residents and emergency responders were working quickly to clear the roads. The number of electric customers without power in Hawaii climbed overnight, reaching more than 200,000 before 8 a.m. local time, according to Poweroutage.us, a site that tracks electrical problems. The outages affected the majority of customers on the Big Island, and more than a third of customers in Oahu and Maui. Hawaiian Electric, the state’s primary power utility, has warned that widespread outages could last for days. Jim Kelly, a spokesman for Hawaiian Electric who lives on Oahu, the chain’s most populated island, said a freeway into downtown Honolulu has been closed because of flooding. A flash flood warning remains in effect for the entire island until 9 a.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. When the Pacific is overly active with tropical cyclones like Lala, the Atlantic typically remains quiet. That has been the case so far this hurricane season, with more activity in the Pacific and less in the Atlantic — but in the public imagination, one major storm can upset that relative quiet. A little over two months into the Atlantic hurricane season, the United States has largely been spared. There have been only three Atlantic storms that have grown strong enough to merit names: Arthur, Bertha and, just last week, Cristobal. That was about what meteorologists expected when they said this year’s hurricane season would probably have fewer storms than most other seasons. In a report this month, experts said there would be seven to 13 named storms, one fewer than they predicted in May. Of those, two to six could become hurricanes, and of those hurricanes, at most two could reach the major hurricane threshold, they said. A typical Atlantic season has 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. This forecast is predicated on the near certainty that an El Niño weather pattern will limit activity. The global phenomenon is expected to persist into the fall, providing a stabilizing force that may act as a lid on Atlantic activity. “When El Niño emerges, it usually becomes the dominant factor in total hurricane season activity, and this El Niño continues to get stronger every month,” Matt Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster, said this month during the updated announcement from the National Weather Service. But Ken Graham, the National Weather Service director, reminded people in May that El Niño’s effect wasn’t certain: Each season could unfold differently. What the public perceives as a “busy” hurricane season isn’t necessarily the total number of storms; it is where they make landfall. And that perception “is a very U.S.-centric thing,” said Phil Klotzbach, a researcher at Colorado State University. He noted that while last year’s hurricane season was above average by nearly every scientific metric, many in the United States might remember it as being quiet because few major storms hit the U.S. coast. But there were three Category 5 hurricanes in 2025, including Melissa, whose winds and flooding caused devastation in Jamaica. The statistical likelihood of a major U.S. landfall is even lower this year, but it is not zero. Memorable Atlantic storms can still break through El Niño. In the world of meteorology, El Niño is neither good nor bad — it is just a natural shift in global weather patterns. Across the Atlantic Ocean, it is a formidable opponent for developing storms. Strong El Niño patterns in the Pacific produce high-altitude changes in the Atlantic wind that can shred developing hurricanes before they form. But not always. In 2023, an El Niño was present, but Atlantic Ocean temperatures were at record highs. This created a tug of war between El Niño’s wind changes and the ocean’s raw energy. That season eventually produced 20 named storms, far exceeding initial predictions. This year, Atlantic Ocean temperatures have been near their historical averages. If that holds, this year may mirror 2015, which had only 11 named storms. Even in that relatively quiet year, though, Hurricane Joaquin damaged islands in the central and southeastern Bahamas and sank the cargo ship El Faro. And although 2018 was another mostly quiet El Niño year, Hurricane Michael still hit the Florida coast. Even in an environment that should have been hostile to the formation of a hurricane, Michael found a small pocket of calm conditions that allowed it to intensify into a Category 5, wiping out homes along the Panhandle. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENTIn its latest update, the National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Lala continued to bring life-threatening flooding across parts of the Big Island and Maui County, as it moved farther west, with another one to three inches of rain expected across windward portions of the islands. Heavy rain and gusty winds were spreading across Oahu, with tropical storm conditions expected to reach Kauai later Sunday. Nearly 130,000 electric customers were without power in Hawaii on Sunday, according to Poweroutage.us, a utility tracker. The majority of the outages were on the largest of the islands. Hawaiian Electric, the state’s primary power utility, had warned that it expected widespread outages that could last for days. Residents on the Big Island could face the longest wait because the utility said reaching some rural areas could be difficult. A flash flood warning that had been in effect for parts of Oahu was expanded to cover the entire island early Sunday local time, as Tropical Storm Lala brought bands of heavy rain. As the storm continued to move westward, forecasters said rain was falling at a rate of up to two inches per hour, with waters in the Manoa, Pukele and Kalihi streams rising quickly. The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a flash flood warning for the island of Maui early Sunday local time. Rain was falling at a rate of up to 2.5 inches per hour, with the heaviest rainfall over the south and east slopes of the Haleakalā volcano, the agency said. Forecasters said heavy rain was causing streams to rise quickly, with flash flooding already happening in some places and expected to begin soon in others. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENTLala weakened to a tropical storm early Sunday morning local time, as it moved farther west, away from Hawaii’s Big Island, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. The Big Island is now under a tropical storm warning, along with Maui County, where damaging winds and heavy rain were expected to continue. Oahu and Kauai County also remained under tropical storm warnings. Conditions were expected to deteriorate across Oahu in the morning, with tropical storm conditions spreading westward from Maui County to Oahu, before reaching Kauai later Sunday. Hurricane hunter aircraft from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Air Force that usually track Atlantic storms have been running out of Hawaii over the last few days to get better details on Lala. These flights are valuable because the crew can acquire important details that help forecast computer models better predict a storm’s intensification and path. But Pacific storms are less likely to damage inhabited communities, so the planes fly through them less frequently.