Hawaii Braces for Hurricane Lala as Storm Nears Big Island

Hawaii is bracing for potentially its first direct hurricane strike in decades as Category 1 Hurricane Lala moves toward the state, threatening the Big Island with damaging winds, flooding and landslides.

Lala strengthened into a hurricane Saturday, with winds reaching 80 mph (130 km/h), as its eyewall brushed the southern portion of the Big Island.

The National Hurricane Center warned that damaging winds and heavy rain would continue across the Big Island through the night before spreading westward across the smaller islands Sunday.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Big Island, while Maui County, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau remain under tropical storm warnings.

Forecasters say the storm could dump up to 25 inches (63 centimeters) of rain on parts of the Big Island and generate a storm surge of up to 3 feet.

Officials have warned residents to prepare for potentially life-threatening conditions, including flash flooding, mudslides and dangerous surf.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green urged residents to take the warnings seriously, saying the state should prepare for “an incredible amount of water.”

The National Weather Service issued particularly severe warnings for southeastern parts of the Big Island, saying major rainfall could trigger widespread evacuations and rescues.

Rivers and tributaries could rapidly overflow their banks in multiple locations, the weather service said.

The storm has already disrupted transportation and power supplies across the state.

Dozens of flights have been canceled, with about 40% of flights grounded at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport and roughly 80% canceled at Hilo International Airport, according to FlightAware.

Nearly 37,000 customers were without electricity across Hawaii by Saturday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us.

Jennifer Myers, a meteorologist who lives in Hilo, said landslides had already blocked some roads and falling trees had brought down power lines.

She described the Wailuku River as extremely high and said heavy sediment had turned normally blue waters in Hilo Bay a deep red.

Authorities had repeatedly urged residents to complete preparations before the storm arrived.

Hawaii County's Civil Defense Agency said shelters were available across the Big Island and urged residents to focus on their sheltering plans.

Lala is expected to continue moving west after passing near or making landfall on the southern tip of the Big Island. Forecasters expect it could weaken into a tropical storm as it moves below Hawaii's other islands.

A direct hurricane strike on Hawaii remains a rare event.

Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 storm, was the last hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii in 1992. It struck Kauai's southern coast, killing six people and causing about $3 billion in damage.

The Associated Press has reported that the last hurricane to make landfall on the Big Island was about 155 years ago.