Hurricane Lala pulls away from Hawaii's Big Island

Hurricane Lala was moving away from Hawaii's Big Island early Sunday, as heavy rain and strong winds battered the US Pacific state, officials warned of potentially dangerous flooding. Damaging winds were expected to continue overnight, with the strongest winds anticipated in elevated areas on the island, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Lala had strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday, with winds up to 75 miles per hour (120 kilometres per hour). It appeared to have reached its peak intensity as it passed near South Point on the Big Island's southern coast, and did not make landfall. A tropical storm warning was in effect for the state's other seven major islands: Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.

Heavy rainfall, leading to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain areas, was anticipated to persist into early Sunday over the Big Island and Maui. The heavy rain and flooding risks would then spread westward across the island chain on Sunday, as per the National Hurricane Center. Power outages affected over 20,000 customers on Saturday, with damaging winds and heavy rain spreading across the Big Island, known for its surfing and tourism.

Swells generated by Lala were expected to build through the weekend, potentially causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency to ensure Hawaii had sufficient resources to clear debris, secure infrastructure, and prepare for the storm. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi had been preparing for the storm for days and urged residents to be ready.

Hawaii had not experienced a major hurricane since 1992, when Hurricane Iniki caused at least six deaths and significant damage. The state had faced Hurricane Fausto the previous month, which weakened and skirted north of the island chain. El Nino, a powerful climate pattern, was forming in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, with a 69 percent chance of a historic event exceeding previous El Nino events since 1950 when it reached its peak between October and December.

El Nino, characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, tends to promote hurricane activity in the Pacific while suppressing it in the Atlantic. Climate change can exacerbate El Nino's effects due to warmer ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to increased energy and moisture for extreme weather events like heat waves and heavy rainfall.

Hawaii's emergency management agency advised residents to clear gutters and drains, move valuables off the ground, seal gaps in doors, and remove tree limbs that posed threats to their properties.