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Cleanup begins in Hawaii after intense rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Lala
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States /Disasters & Emergencies

Cleanup begins in Hawaii after intense rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Lala

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Tropical Storm Lala weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm after passing Hawaii, leaving behind flooding and a muddy mess.
  • Cleanup efforts began on Monday, with no coastal watches or warnings in effect, though dangerous surf conditions persisted.
  • The storm caused significant flooding on the Big Island, sweeping about 100 homes from their foundations, but no deaths were reported.

Tropical Storm Lala left Hawaii's main islands battered and muddy on Monday after weakening from a hurricane to a tropical storm. Residents began cleanup efforts as the storm moved westward, with no coastal watches or warnings in effect. However, the National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Laupahoehoe on the Big Island's northeast coast recorded the heaviest rainfall at 43.54 inches. The storm's highest winds, recorded atop Mauna Kea volcano, reached 140 mph. Lower elevations experienced tropical storm-force winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

The storm's impact included felled trees and power lines. On the Big Island, serious flooding swept approximately 100 homes from their foundations. Fortunately, authorities reported that no one is believed to have died in the flooding. The storm was forecast to strengthen back into a hurricane at sea by Wednesday, far from land.

There's no real looming hazards that we're facing now. Lala's off to the west.

โ€” Patrick BloodNational Weather Service meteorologist Patrick Blood described the current weather situation after the storm passed.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.