Hurricane Lala leaves thousands without power in Hawaii

On Saturday, Hurricane Lala swept across Hawaii with powerful winds and torrential rain, causing widespread power outages and life-threatening flooding. More than 40,000 utility customers lost power throughout the state, with 42,889 customers affected by 2:14 p.m. HST (0014 GMT on Sunday). The hardest hit areas included 31,792 customers on the Big Island and 7,203 in Maui County, which encompasses Maui, Lanai, and Molokai.

The National Hurricane Center warned of "life-threatening" conditions as Lala's maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h), classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. The Maunakea Weather Center on the Big Island's highest peak logged wind gusts over 100 mph, although winds would have been slower nearer the coast.

Hawaiian Electric advised residents to expect "possible extended outages, potentially overnight" as the storm system moved westward across the islands. Utility crews on the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island were assessing damage to a 42-mile (67.6 km) span of transmission lines after fallen trees brought down numerous poles and structures.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced the closure of Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole by 2 p.m. HST. Additionally, commercial ports in Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kaua'i were shut down due to the hazardous weather conditions.