Heavy rain lashes Hawaii as Tropical Storm Lala approaches
The Big Island of Hawaii was hit by heavy rain as Tropical Storm Lala neared, prompting warnings of strong winds and dangerous surf.
Hawaii faced torrential downpours as Tropical Storm Lala neared the archipelago, triggering alerts of intense winds and hazardous surf. The governor of Hawaii issued a state of emergency as the storm drew near, with winds estimated at 100 kilometers per hour. Authorities issued a hurricane warning for Hawaii County, covering the Big Island, while a tropical storm warning persisted for Maui, Molokai, and Kahoolawe to the northwest.
At 15:00 GMT, the National Hurricane Center reported that the Big Island might experience hurricane-force destructive winds later today, as tropical storm-force winds had already begun to impact the region. The storm was expected to bring life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas with steep terrain, due to heavy rainfall.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted the Big Island could receive up to 64 centimeters of rain, accompanied by elevated sea levels caused by the storm's effects. Dangerous surf was also anticipated to accompany the storm, with hazardous weather and sea conditions potentially lasting through Sunday.
Written by urgent.news from Ajel English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
