At least 1 dead as Lala weakens to tropical storm, slamming Hawaii with flash flooding, sweeping homes away
Lala continues moving westward offshore of the Hawaiian Islands as a newly downgraded tropical storm, maintaining rare and dangerous impacts on the state with violent flooding and damaging winds. The system was briefly upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the National hurricane Center on Saturday afternoon before its recent weakening trend.
THE TAKEAWAY
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Lala continues moving westward offshore of the Hawaiian Islands as a newly downgraded tropical storm, maintaining rare and dangerous impacts on the state with violent flooding and damaging winds.
The system was briefly upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center on Saturday afternoon before its recent weakening trend.
killed in a storm-related car accident, according to an update from Governor Josh Green.At least one person was
THE BIGGEST HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS TO THREATEN HAWAII IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
A Flash Flood Emergency unfolded on the Big Island as torrential rain is still slamming the Islands, with reports of at least two homes swept away.
Destructive winds have knocked out power to nearly 70% of the Big Island as Tropical Storm Lala's impacts are far from over across the Hawaiian Islands.
Tropical Strom 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.
In the latest advisory, the NHC said that Lala has sustained winds of 65 mph as it moves through the Pacific Ocean northwest at 14 mph.
TRACK HURRICANE LALA: LATEST ALERTS, LIVE RADAR AND WARNINGS
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.
WHY ARE HURRICANES SO RARE FOR HAWAII?
On top of the flooding, mudslides are a major concern as well.
The center of Tropical Storm 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.
EL NINO STILL STRENGTHENING, WILL REACH 'SUPER' STATUS BY END OF 2026
The worst impacts are continuing Sunday. Heavy rain, damaging winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding will continue to slam the Hawaiian Islands.
Rain totals could topple two feet, bringing a significant threat of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HURRICANE LALA COLLIDES WITH HAWAII'S MASSIVE VOLCANOES?
Waves up to 25 feet have battered the eastern-facing shore.
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.
LATEST FROM FOX WEATHER HURRICANE SPECIALIST BRYAN NORCROSS
A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the Main Island, but has since been discontinued.
Stay with FOX Weather for updates to this developing story.
The post At least 1 dead as Lala weakens to tropical storm, slamming Hawaii with flash flooding, sweeping homes away appeared first on Fox Weather
