Hurricane Lala slammed Hawaii with fierce winds and torrential rain,hitting Big Island hardest as it brushed the coast Saturday . Winds hit 91 mph (146 km/h),leaving tens of thousands without power and raising alarms about floods and mudslides.
By Saturday evening, Governor Josh Green noted Lala's closest pass was near South Point on Big Island,where one person died in a storm-related crash. This category one hurricane could drop 25 inches (63 cm) of rain and push 3-foot storm surge.
The National Hurricane Center said Lala's eye wall scraped Big Island's southern edge. Damaging winds and heavy rain were set to persist through the night, spreading to other islands by Sunday. Big Island is under a hurricane warning, with tropical storm warnings for Maui,Oahu, and others.
Though it didn't make landfall,Lala got within 30 miles (48 km) of South Point. Governor Green advised residents to avoid roads,warning of major flooding while emergency crews assessed damage. State videos showed flooded roads and downed trees blocking paths.
Flight disruptions hit hard, with 190 flights delayed. At Kona Airport,40% of flights were canceled,while Hilo faced 80% cancellation rate. The National Weather Service warned of extreme flooding in Big Island's southeast, possibly leading to evacuations and rescues.
Saturday evening saw over 100,000 without power across Hawaii, PowerOutage reported. Governor Green said three hospitals lost power but ran on backup generators. In Maui,some residents lacked water, worsening the crisis.
Local meteorologist Jennifer Myers in Hilo observed landslides blocking roads and power lines downed by fallen trees. The Wailuku River ran dangerously high, its usual blue waters turned red with sediment .
Residents were urged to prep ahead,many taking to social media to show storm-proofing efforts. Public shelters were opened by Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency across Big Island .
Lala is Hawaii's first hurricane threat since 1992's Hurricane Iniki,a category four storm that killed six and caused $3 billion in damages on Kauai. Lala's impact worsened by a strong El Niño, warming ocean temps and possibly intensifying storms.
As Lala moves west,officials stay alert,monitoring conditions and prepping for evacuations if needed. Situation's fluid; residents should stay updated and follow local warnings.
