Tropical Storm Lala weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday after bypassing Hawaii without hitting land, but it continued to impact the Big Island with strong gusts. The region was expected to receive nearly one meter of rainfall, leading to swollen rivers and a risk of mudslides on the windward slopes.
Tropical storm conditions were moving westward from Maui to Oahu and later to Kauai. The National Hurricane Center cautioned that wind speeds in mountainous areas and on different slopes could be up to 30% stronger than those at the surface used to classify storms.
The Big Island experienced powerful waves along its coast as Lala slowly moved through. The storm brought howling winds, causing palm trees to sway and rivers to fill rapidly with rainwater. Over 130,000 households were without electricity on Sunday morning across Hawaii’s three largest islands, with three hospitals operating on backup power.
One fatality was reported in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island, and 19 roofs were damaged due to the severe storm. A search-and-rescue operation was initiated after flash floods reportedly swept several homes off their foundations in coastal communities. Tropical storm warnings were in place for various islands as Lala moved westward, posing a risk of flooding and wildfires from strong winds.
As of early Sunday, Lala was located approximately 170 kilometers west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and 160 kilometers south of Honolulu, with sustained winds of 110 km/h. The storm was moving northwest at 24 km/h and was expected to regain hurricane strength later in the week.
Forecasters anticipated significant rainfall in higher-altitude areas of the Big Island, potentially causing hazards like mudslides, especially in regions with improvised housing. Residents were advised to take precautions, with shelters opened, events canceled, and ranchers urged to secure their livestock.
Lala had transformed from a tropical storm into a hurricane on Saturday with sustained winds reaching 120 km/h, classified as a Category 1 hurricane. The last hurricane to directly hit the Big Island was in 1871, with significant damage recorded. Hawaii residents were still recovering from devastating floods in March.