Tropical Storm Lala Unleashes Fury on Hawaii: One Dead, Widespread Power Outages & Flooding
Tropical Storm Lala Unleashes Fury on Hawaii: One Dead, Widespread Power Outages & Flooding
Tropical Storm Lala, formerly a hurricane, continues to devastate the Hawaiian islands with torrential rains, hurricane-force winds, and widespread power outages. Get the latest on the storm's impact and ongoing threats.
Tropical Storm Lala, once a formidable hurricane, has weakened but continues to unleash its fury across the Hawaiian islands, particularly on the Big Island. The storm, which skirted Hawaii without making direct landfall, has left a trail of destruction, including one fatality and widespread power outages.
Hurricane-force gusts have relentlessly punished the Big Island, with nearly three feet of rain expected on the higher windward slopes. This immense rainfall is turning rivers into raging torrents and significantly increasing the threat of dangerous mudslides. Powerful waves have also been pounding the Big Island’s coastline, exacerbating the hazardous conditions.
As the storm moves westward, tropical storm conditions are now spreading from Maui to Oahu and Kauai. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings that wind speeds atop mountains and on windward/leeward slopes can be up to 30% stronger than surface-level winds, making conditions even more perilous. Governor Josh Green reported that over 60,000 households are without electricity, and three hospitals have switched to generator power to maintain operations.
The human cost of Lala’s wrath is becoming clear. Tragically, at least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island. Furthermore, Governor Green confirmed that 19 roofs were lost due to the “enormous storm” and numerous roads have been severely impacted, with crews already addressing more than 30 sites across the islands.
Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. As of early Sunday, Lala was centered about 105 miles west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and 100 miles south of Honolulu, sustaining top winds of 70 mph and moving northwest. Forecasters anticipate that Lala could regain hurricane strength midweek as it continues to whirl south of the other islands, raising concerns for further destructive flooding and even wildfires sparked by the strong winds. The community is urged to remain vigilant as the islands navigate this severe weather event.
