Hurricane Lala weakens; Hawaii faces flooding and power outages for 60,000 homes

Hurricane Lala has weakened to a tropical storm after passing south of Hawaii, but severe weather continues to impact the islands. Meteorologists warn that hurricane-force gusts could still hit areas with flash flooding and strong winds.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) had issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island, which has not experienced a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years. The storm drifted past Hawaii's coast on Sunday, sparing the islands from its primary impact zones but still bringing dangerous conditions. As tropical storm winds moved westward from Maui to Oahu and Kauai, pounding waves crashed against the Big Island, and wild squalls caused torrential rain.

Up to three feet of rain is expected in higher windward slopes, raising fears of life-threatening mudslides and flooded rivers. The NHC has indicated that some areas could see rainfall totals reaching 35 inches. The impact of the storm has already been felt, with over 60,000 households losing power and three hospitals switching to generator power, according to Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green. Tragically, at least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island as a result of the severe weather.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect for multiple islands, including Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Residents are on edge as heavy flooding and strong winds persist, raising concerns about potential wildfires in the region. The ongoing conditions highlight the vulnerability of Hawaii’s communities to extreme weather events and the need for preparedness as climate change intensifies these occurrences.