Hurricane Lala weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm after passing south of Hawaii, but the islands continued to face flash flooding, powerful winds and hurricane-force gusts. The storm did not make landfall after edging past the Big Island.
The National Hurricane Center warned that rainfall could reach 90cm (35 inches) in some parts of the Big Island, while higher windward slopes could receive up to one metre (three feet).
Warnings remained active across the islands
The National Hurricane Center had issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island on Saturday. As the storm moved west on Sunday, tropical storm winds extended from Maui toward Oahu and Kauai, while tropical storm warnings remained active for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.
Pounding surf struck the Big Island coast, and squalls brought sideways rain and strong gusts. The storm’s effects included swollen rivers, severe coastal flooding and erosion from large waves.
Flooding and landslides were the main dangers
Forecasters warned that the expected rainfall could turn rivers into fast-moving floods and trigger life-threatening mudslides. The continuing strong winds also raised concern about wildfires in Hawaii.
Residents described the force of the storm as it passed. Christine Matsuda of Waimea told the Associated Press that powerful gusts rattled her entire house every few minutes.
Power and safety impacts on the Big Island
More than 60,000 households had lost power, and three hospitals had switched to generator power, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Saturday evening. At least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island, and 19 roofs were reported lost.
The Big Island had not experienced a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years, according to the supplied source material. Although Lala avoided a direct hit, dangerous conditions continued along the Hawaiian coast as the storm moved west.
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