Hawaii's Big Island Braces for Hurricane-Force Tropical Storm Lala

Hawaii's Big Island is enduring heavy rain and strong winds as Tropical Storm Lala approaches, with forecasts predicting it will intensify into a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center has issued a rare hurricane warning for the island, marking a potential first landfall in 155 years. Higher elevations could receive up to 25 inches of rain, raising concerns about life-threatening mudslides in areas with off-grid housing.

Governor Josh Green described the storm as "enormous." Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 220 miles, with Oahu and Kauai expected to experience them by Sunday morning. Destructive flooding and wind-driven wildfires are also possible. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Maui County.

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This is an enormous storm.

Historical records indicate a Category 3 hurricane struck the island's northeast corner in 1871. The current forecast suggests Lala will pass very close to the Big Island's southern tip. Officials and residents are preparing for the storm's impacts, with shelters opening and events being canceled, as significant damage can occur even without a direct landfall.

Forecasters predict 8 to 12 inches of rain for Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4 to 6 inches for the rest of the island chain. The storm surge, ocean swells, and potential for "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain," are significant concerns. As of early Saturday, Lala had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving northwest.

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It doesn't take landfall to create destruction.