At least one killed as Hurricane Lala slams Hawaiian Islands with violent flash flooding, sweeping homes away
THE TAKEAWAY
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Hurricane Lala continues its path northwest past the Hawaiian Islands as a Category 1 hurricane, unleashing a rare and dangerous impact on the state as it continues its track northwest along the western side of the Big Island, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain and taking the life of one person.
According to an update from Governor Josh Green, the person died in a storm-related car accident.
A Flash Flood Emergency is now unfolding on the Big Island.
Lala continues barreling toward the Hawaiian Islands as a Category 1 hurricane ahead of a rare impact on the state.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Lala is not expected to exceed Category 1 status.
In the latest advisory, the NHC said that Lala has sustained winds of 75 mph as it moves through the Pacific Ocean northwest at 10 mph.
WIDESPREAD ALERTS ISSUED ACROSS HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AS TROPICAL STORM LALA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN
Hurricane Lala is tracking northwest along the western side of the Big Island, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall that will move toward Oahu and Kauai on Sunday.
Damaging hurricane-force winds have knocked out power to nearly 70% of the Big Island. Meanwhile, torrential rain has pushed several area waterways into flood stage.
The Wailuku River, which feeds Rainbow Falls and flows into Hilo, has reached its sixth-highest level on record.
According to the NHC, peak rainfall measurements over the last 12 hours have reached between 15 and 17 inches across windward Maui and the Big Island.
On top of the flooding, mudslides are a major concern as well.
The center of Hurricane Lala has passed the Big Island and will begin to turn west, moving away from Hawaii on Sunday.
"It will take some time, however, and the worst impacts are still to come across Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Lanai, and Kauaʻi," the FOX Forecast Center said.
TIMELINE: WHEN HAWAII WILL START FEELING TROPICAL STORM LALA'S IMPACTS
Heavy rain bands from Lala began impacting the Big Island on Saturday afternoon, along with tropical storm-force wind gusts.
FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel reported from Wainaku on the Big Island, giving us the latest pictures as the hurricane made its approach.
The worst impacts are expected from Saturday into Sunday. Storm surge and increasingly rough surf and dangerous waves will also impact coastal areas.
In fact, waves up to 25 feet have battered the eastern-facing shore.
Power outages were reported on the Big Island starting Saturday morning, with the number of outages increasing as Lala inched closer to the islands, leaving thousands without power.
LATEST FROM FOX WEATHER HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NORCROSS
Heavy rain, damaging winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding will all be major concerns through the weekend. Widespread rainfall totals of 5–8 inches are possible, with 12–18+ inches across higher terrain and windward areas. Locally, rainfall could approach 25 inches, bringing a significant threat of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a State of Emergency on Thursday ahead of the storm, warning that "Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly Hawaiʻi Island."
On Saturday morning he gave an update just before Lala was declared a hurricane.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Big Island, while a Tropical Storm Warning now covers Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, as well as Oahu and Kauai County, including the islands of Kauai and Niihau.