Hawaii declares state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Lala
The Pacific storm is strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii's Big Island.
Hawaii has declared a state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Lala, which is expected to bring strong winds, flooding and landslides to the Big Island this weekend. The Pacific storm is currently intensifying, with the National Weather Service forecasting it to become a hurricane as it nears the US state. Winds are currently around 80 kilometers per hour, with even stronger gusts possible.
The storm could bring up to 25 inches of rain to certain areas of the Big Island. Governor Josh Green issued the state of emergency, stating that it will provide necessary funds, resources and personnel in the event of damage. He urged residents to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review their emergency plans and stay updated on the storm's progress.
The Big Island, home to over 210,000 people, is the second most populous of Hawaii's main islands, after Oahu. While the storm's path remains uncertain, it is expected to remain offshore. The last tropical storm to directly hit the archipelago was in 2018. This year's El Niño phenomenon, a weather pattern currently at its strongest, is warming the equatorial Pacific and increasing the likelihood of cyclones.
Meteorologists anticipate a more active than usual hurricane season in the region, and scientists warn that climate change, driven by human burning of fossil fuels, is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
