Overview
- The system weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm on Sunday after its core passed near the southern tip of the Island of Hawaiʻi, but heavy rains and strong winds continued to affect the islands.
- Officials reported at least one storm-linked death, widespread flooding, road closures and damage to more than 100 homes while utilities said roughly tens to hundreds of thousands of customers lost power across the state.
- The National Hurricane Center and local agencies warned of extreme rainfall with isolated totals far above monthly norms that could trigger deadly flash floods and landslides in steep terrain on the Big Island.
- State and county leaders declared emergencies and mobilized the National Guard, opened shelters, closed airports and ports, and pre-positioned crews to restore electricity and clear roads.
- Forecasters attributed Lala’s intensification over unusually warm ocean waters to a strong El Niño and a marine heatwave, and they cautioned that dangerous surf, storm surge and heavy rain will continue to pose hazards while recovery operations proceed.