Tropical Storm Lala is strengthening as it approaches Hawaii, prompting officials to issue hurricane and tropical storm warnings for several islands. The National Hurricane Center reported Friday evening that the storm sustained winds of 65 mph as it moved west-northwest toward the Big Island. Forecasters indicated the storm's center could pass directly over the island or slightly to the south on Saturday.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a statewide emergency on Thursday, enabling the activation of the National Guard and the release of emergency funds. A hurricane warning is currently in effect for Hawaii County, while Maui County is under a tropical storm warning. Additionally, tropical storm watches have been issued for Oahu and Kauai counties as the state prepares for heavy rain and high winds.
Meteorologists noted that Lala is maintaining its strength due to an ongoing marine heatwave and a developing Super El Niño, which provides warmer water and weaker winds that would otherwise dissipate such storms. Historically, landfalls in Hawaii are rare; the last hurricane to make a direct hit was Category 4 Iniki in 1992, which struck Kauai. Tropical Storm Olivia was the most recent tropical system to make landfall, hitting Maui in 2018.
The scale of the threat extends to infrastructure and utility services for the state's population. In Maui County, Mayor Richard Bissen warned that power outages are a primary concern, which could leave thousands of households without electricity as the storm passes. Coastal residents on the Big Island are also facing a storm surge of 1 to 3 feet, which can push ocean water onto normally dry land, damaging homes and eroding beaches. The National Hurricane Center expects these conditions to begin impacting the Big Island on Friday and spread to Maui by Saturday.
For the broader region, the storm is part of a more active central Pacific cyclone season fueled by El Niño. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast five to 13 cyclones for the season, an above-average number that may require repeated emergency responses. As Lala continues its path, residents on Oahu and Kauai will likely see rain and wind impacts by Sunday. Local officials and the National Guard remain in discussions to pre-position resources in areas that were previously damaged by storms earlier this year.
What happens next: The center of the storm is forecast to reach the Big Island on Saturday, August 15. Heavy rain is expected to spread to Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai by Sunday, August 16. A flood watch for Maui County remains in effect through Sunday. Officials will continue to monitor the storm's track for any wobbles that could alter the direct impact zones as it interacts with Hawaii's landmass.