NHC
By Joe Edwards and Hollie Silverman
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Tropical Storm Lala is bearing down on Hawaii, with the Big Island expected to take the first and hardest hit as forecasters warned of damaging winds, flooding rain and dangerous surf spreading across the island chain.
The storm was about 75 miles south-southeast of South Point, Hawaii, and about 290 miles southeast of Honolulu at 10 a.m. HST Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Lala had maximum sustained winds of 41 miles per hour and was moving west-northwest at 9 mph, a track forecast to carry its core near South Point on Saturday before passing south of the smaller islands on Sunday. It is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island.
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Big Island Under Hurricane Warning
The Big Island is under a Hurricane Warning, meaning hurricane conditions are expected in Hawaii County. Maui County, including Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, is under a Tropical Storm Warning, along with Oahu and Kauai County, including Kauai and Niihau.
The NHC said hurricane conditions are expected on the Big Island Saturday, with stronger winds possible over mountains and windward and leeward slopes. Local National Weather Service guidance for Kona listed peak winds of 55 to 70 mph, with gusts up to 85 mph, and told residents to move to safe shelter before winds become hazardous.
The NHC forecast eight to 12 inches of rainfall across Maui and the Big Island, with up to 25 inches possible on the Big Island. The rest of the island chain could see four to six inches, with isolated totals up to eight inches. Forecasters said that rain could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain.
The NHC said storm surge could push one to three feet of water above ground in parts of Hawaii if peak surge lines up with high tide, while large swells were already building along east-facing shores and were expected to increase along exposed southern shores.
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Counties Open Storm Shelters
Hawaii County opened emergency shelters across the Big Island at 6 p.m. Friday as Lala approached, advising residents to bring their own supplies including food, water, sleeping bags, and any necessary medicine.
Maui County opened temporary evacuation points Friday night in Wailuku, Hana and Lahaina, with additional sites in Pukalani and Kihei opening Saturday morning. Officials said the sites can be converted into shelters if needed.
Honolulu planned to open eight hurricane refuge areas Saturday morning, while Kauai County said refuge areas could be activated if conditions worsened.
Flights Canceled As Lala Nears
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines said five Neighbor Island flights were canceled Friday, while 54 Neighbor Island flights and 11 transpacific flights were canceled for Saturday.
The state’s official visitor guidance said several flights to and from Kona, Hilo and Kahului had been canceled Saturday, and that the TSA checkpoint at Kona International Airport would close at 2 p.m.
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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