Hurricane Lala passes Hawaii's Big Island, bringing strong winds and heavy rain

Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii's Big Island, passing to its south on Saturday without making direct landfall. The storm, which had strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane, brought significant wind and rain, but ultimately spared the island from a direct hit, which would have been the first in 155 years.

Despite avoiding landfall, hurricane-force winds were forecast to continue through Saturday night, with the National Hurricane Center warning of 10 to 20 inches of rain, potentially reaching 25 inches in some areas. This rainfall posed a risk of "life-threatening flooding and mudslides," especially in mountainous regions.

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This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

In response to the threat, Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency, urging residents to shelter in place. Over 40,000 utility customers lost power, including more than 31,000 on the Big Island. Airports in Hilo and Kona were closed, and emergency shelters were opened.

The hurricane's passage also brought renewed concern about wildfire risk due to dry and windy conditions outside the storm's immediate path. This was particularly poignant given the devastating wildfires on Maui in 2023, which destroyed the town of Lahaina amid strong winds while a hurricane passed far south of the islands. Meteorologists noted that Lala's arrival coincided with a strong El Nino event, which can increase Pacific hurricane activity. Hawaii has not experienced a major hurricane landfall since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

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It’s a serious storm.