Lala could bring high winds, heavy rain and big waves across the main islands over the weekend, starting the night of Aug. 14.
Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday, August 15, bringing with it as much as two feet of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane watch in effect for the Big Island will be upgraded later on Aug. 13, and watches and warnings will be extended to the other islands, said Michael Brennan, hurricane center director.
The center’s forecast calls for Lala to become a Category One hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph and higher gusts overnight on Aug. 14 as it moves toward the island.
“Don’t focus too much on the track of the center,” Brennan said during a 5 p.m. video update. “The hazards and impacts associated with Lala are going to extend far from the center, particularly the winds and heavy rainfall.”
Extreme ocean heat across the Pacific will give the storm a moisture boost.
Tropical Storm Lala is on track to hit Hawaii this weekend, bringing heavy rain, a swath of damaging winds and hazardous sea conditions.
And the storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane on approach to Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday morning.