\n12:09 AM ET Just NowBreaking News12 a.m. ET advisory: Lala\u2019s eyewall passes near South Point as hurricane tracks northwest<\/p>\n
The National Hurricane Center\u2019s 12 a.m. ET (6 p.m. HT) advisory shows Hurricane Lala continuing northwest at 9 mph as its eyewall passes near South Point on Hawaii\u2019s Big Island.<\/p>\n
Now located about 35 miles southwest of South Point and 180 miles southeast of Honolulu, the Category 1 hurricane maintains maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and a central pressure of 985 mb.<\/p>\n
Lala is unleashing torrential rainfall across Hawaii, with peak totals of 13 to 14 inches measured over the past 12 hours across windward portions of Maui and the Big Island.<\/p>\n
\nKona International Airport, located along the western coast of the Big Island and northwest of South Point, recently reported sustained winds of 52 mph with a gust of 71 mph as Lala tracks past the island.<\/p>\n
11:58 PM ET 11 Min AgoLive from Rainbow Falls: Tourist destination nearly unrecognizable as Hurricane Lala pounds Hawaii<\/p>\n
\nFOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel is in Hilo, Hawaii, where the normally tranquil and picturesque Rainbow Falls is nearly unrecognizable as Hurricane Lala pounds the Big Island with heavy rain and strong winds.<\/p>\n
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The popular tourist attraction is now seeing an intense surge of water cascading over the falls.<\/p>\n
11:32 PM ET 37 Min Ago180 National Guardsmen positioned across Hawaii as Hurricane Lala hits island chain<\/p>\n
Hawaii officials have deployed emergency resources across the islands as Hurricane Lala impacts the state, with about 180 National Guard personnel positioned to support response operations. High-wheeled vehicle teams have also been pre-positioned in each county.<\/p>\n
Hilo International Airport and Kona International Airport closed Saturday afternoon, with officials anticipating operations will resume Sunday. Commercial ports on Hawaii Island and in Maui County are also closed.<\/p>\n
Gov. Josh Green urged residents who are safe at home to shelter in place, warning that emergency crews are responding to changing conditions across the state.\n<\/p>\n
Officials are also monitoring flooding and landslide threats, and a Brown Water Advisory has been issued for Hawaii Island following heavy rain.<\/p>\n
11:28 PM ET 41 Min AgoBryan Norcross Analysis: Hurricane Lala makes closest approach to Hawaii<\/p>\n
Hurricane Lala is strengthening during its closest approach to Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds now at 80 mph as the eyewall brushes the southern Big Island.<\/p>\n
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FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross breaks down the latest developments and the ongoing threats as Lala pounds the island chain.<\/p>\n
\nHurricane Lala has strengthened as its eyewall brushes Hawaii\u2019s Big Island, delivering crippling rainfall and dangerous winds during its closest approach and fueling widespread flooding concerns while overwhelming power utilities across the island chain.<\/p>\n
The National Hurricane Center\u2019s 11 p.m. ET (5 p.m. HT) advisory shows Hurricane Lala moving northwest at 9 mph as it passes just southwest of the Big Island.<\/p>\n
Now located about 30 miles southwest of South Point and 220 miles southeast of Honolulu, the Category 1 hurricane has strengthened slightly, with maximum sustained winds increasing by 5 mph to 80 mph and its central pressure dropping from 988 mb to 985 mb.<\/p>\n
According to the NHC, damaging winds and heavy rainfall will continue across the Big Island through tonight before spreading westward across the smaller Hawaiian Islands on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\nLala is forecast to maintain its current intensity over the next few hours as the hurricane remains near South Point on the Big Island. Steady weakening is then expected later tonight into Sunday as Lala tracks south of Hawaii\u2019s smaller main islands.<\/p>\n
10:43 PM ET 1 HR AgoBreaking News
\nHawaii power outages skyrocket as storm damage could force temporary shutoffs<\/p>\n
Power outages are skyrocketing across Hawaii as Hurricane Lala continues to batter the island chain with powerful winds and heavy rain.<\/p>\n
More than 68,000 customers were without power across Hawaii, according to PowerOutage.com<\/a>, a significant jump as conditions deteriorate across the state.<\/p>\n The vast majority of outages are being reported on the Big Island, where more than 50,000 customers have lost power.<\/p>\n Honolulu County was reporting more than 16,000 outages, while more than 1,500 customers were in the dark in Maui County.<\/p>\n “On the Hamakua coast, wind-toppled trees knocked down multiple poles and structures along a 42-mile span of transmission lines,” Hawaiian Electric, the state’s largest electricity provider, wrote on X.<\/p>\n \nStorm damage on Hawaii Island could force Hawaiian Electric to temporarily shut off power to some customers to keep the electrical grid stable and prevent further damage.<\/p>\n The utility said four independent power producers have been disconnected from the island’s electrical grid because of damage from the ongoing storm, potentially requiring Hawaiian Electric to “load shed.”<\/p>\n Load shedding involves intentionally cutting power to some customers when electricity demand exceeds available supply, helping stabilize the grid and protect generating equipment from damage.<\/p>\n “Crews have been getting electricity back on as quickly as safely possible. However, restoration work often needs to pause as weather conditions intensify and make it unsafe for crew members and customers in the area,” Hawaiian Electric said in press release.<\/p>\n 10:20 PM ET 1 HR AgoWant to watch Hurricane Lala? Don’t count on Kilauea’s webcam<\/p>\n As Hawaii’s most active volcano, Kilauea has delivered some spectacular scenes on a live webcam operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, including lava fountains shooting hundreds of feet into the air.<\/p>\n However, as Hurricane Lala barrels near the Hawaiian Islands, the view is looking a little different. Heavy rain and powerful winds have completely whited out the webcam<\/a>, obscuring views of the volcano as the storm passes nearby.<\/p>\n \nThe camera isn’t the only monitoring tool being affected by the hurricane.<\/p>\n According to the USGS, Hurricane Lala has also disrupted some of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s most sensitive ground-monitoring instruments, known as tiltmeters.<\/p>\n Tiltmeters help scientists detect the movement of magma beneath a volcano by measuring extremely subtle changes in the slope, or tilt, of the ground.<\/p>\n Heavy rainfall like that produced by Lala can interfere with those measurements, potentially producing misleading signals as saturated soil and changes in ground temperature affect the instruments’ readings.<\/p>\n \nSo while watching the public webcam right now might be about as exciting as watching paint dry, scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory aren’t taking their eyes off Kilauea.<\/p>\n Researchers continue to closely monitor Hawaii’s volcanoes and watch for earthquakes and other signs of volcanic activity as Hurricane Lala threatens the island chain.<\/p>\n 10:05 PM ET 2 HRS Ago The National Hurricane Center\u2019s latest position update, issued at 10 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. HT, shows Hurricane Lala moving northwest at 9 mph, a slight increase in forward speed as the storm continues interacting with the Big Island\u2019s massive terrain.<\/p>\n Radar data indicate that Lala\u2019s eyewall is nearing South Point, Hawaii, as heavy rain continues to spread across the eastern main Hawaiian Islands.<\/p>\n The Category 1 hurricane is now located just 35 miles south of South Point and about 200 miles southeast of Honolulu, with maximum sustained winds holding at 75 mph and a minimum central pressure of 988 mb.<\/p>\n \nNear South Point, observations are already showing hurricane-force gusts. A station at roughly 550 feet in elevation recently recorded sustained winds of 51 mph with a gust to 71 mph, while another observation site at South Point Park clocked sustained winds of 49 mph and a gust to 73 mph.<\/p>\n Peak rainfall totals have reached 12 to 13 inches over the past 12 hours across windward areas of Maui and the Big Island.<\/p>\n 9:45 PM ET 2 HRS AgoPower outages climb as nearly 45,000 customers lose electricity across Hawaii<\/p>\n Nearly 45,000 power outages were reported across Hawaii as severe weather impacts the islands, with the Big Island accounting for the highest percentage of customers without electricity.<\/p>\n \nAccording to PowerOutage.com, about 44,200 outages were reported across Hawaii.<\/p>\n \nHawaii County, which covers the Big Island, had by far the largest number of outages, with over 33,000 customers without power.<\/p>\n Farther west, the storm\u2019s impacts are increasingly being felt across Maui and Oahu, where more than 9,000 customers combined are now without power as Lala moves closer.<\/p>\n The lion\u2019s share of outages are being reported by Hawaiian Electric.<\/p>\n In a post on X, Darren Pai of Hawaiian Electric said utility crews are out in force working to restore power to customers impacted by the storm across the Hawaiian Islands.<\/p>\n Pai urged customers to prepare for extended outages, including some that could last overnight, as Hurricane Lala makes its way past the islands.<\/p>\n 9:24 PM ET 2 HRS Ago9 p.m. ET advisory: Lala brings damaging winds, heavy rain to Big Island<\/p>\n Damaging winds and torrential rain are spreading across Hawaii’s Big Island as Hurricane Lala moves within about 35 miles of South Point, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.<\/p>\n Radar shows strong rainbands sweeping across the Big Island, producing heavy rainfall and tropical storm-force winds. Near South Point, a weather station recently measured sustained winds of 50 mph with a gust to 69 mph, while another site at South Point Park recorded a 63 mph gust.<\/p>\n As of 9 p.m. ET, Lala remained a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, moving northwest at 8 mph.<\/p>\n 9:18 PM ET 2 HRS AgoHurricane Lala fuels raging waterfall on Hawaii\u2019s Big Island<\/p>\n Typically, Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii, is a tranquil, picturesque destination that draws visitors from around the world.<\/p>\n \nLocated along the eastern side of the Big Island, Hilo has been bearing some of Hurricane Lala\u2019s strongest impacts, as evidenced by the dramatic conditions unfolding at Rainbow Falls.<\/p>\n As torrential rain drenches the region, the normally scenic Rainbow Falls is cascading at intense rates.<\/p>\n \nVideo shared with FOX Weather shows muddy, brown runoff surging over the falls and cascading into the river below with tremendous force, leaving the popular landmark nearly unrecognizable.<\/p>\n \nFrom a comfortable distance, one person filmed Rainbow Falls, that didn’t look so colorful, as conditions will likely intensify as more rain falls over the Big Island.<\/p>\n 9:00 PM ET 3 HRS AgoDouble whammy? Earthquakes reported as Hurricane Lala inches towards Hawaii<\/p>\n \nCan earthquakes happen during a hurricane? Well, just take a look at Hawaii.<\/p>\n On Saturday, as Hurricane Lala churned across the Pacific toward the Hawaiian Island Chain, another natural hazard was stirring beneath the islands.<\/p>\n According to the U.S. Geological Survey, at least five earthquakes were reported in the region over a 12-hour period, with the strongest registering a magnitude 3.7.<\/p>\n While the earthquakes were relatively small and posed little threat compared with the powerful hurricane passing near the islands, the timing offers a rare example of two of nature\u2019s most powerful forces occurring in the same place at the same time.<\/p>\n 8:44 PM ET 3 HRS AgoHurricane Lala battering Hawaii despite unlikely direct landfall<\/p>\n While a direct landfall now appears unlikely, FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross says that changes little: Hawaii is getting battered by Hurricane Lala, and the dangerous impacts will continue.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n Norcross breaks down the National Hurricane Center\u2019s latest outlook as Lala inches dangerously close to the Big Island.<\/p>\n 8:31 PM ET 3 HRS AgoMore than 16 inches of rain soak parts of the Big Island<\/p>\n Torrential rain from Hurricane Lala is piling up across Hawaii’s Big Island, with some locations recording more than a foot of rain in the past 24 hours.<\/p>\n \nNahuku has measured 16.18 inches, while Glenwood has picked up 11.94 inches and Piihonua has recorded 10.09 inches, respectively. Puu Kapukapu has received 7.78 inches, while Pahoa has measured 6.10 inches.<\/p>\n The extreme totals come as Lala continues to funnel tropical moisture into the Big Island, raising the threat of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain.<\/p>\n 8:28 PM ET 3 HRS Ago80 mph gust recorded on Molokai, far from Lala\u2019s center<\/p>\n \nAn 80 mph wind gust has been recorded on an island in Hawaii, roughly 200 miles from the center of Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n The extreme gust is the result of strong downslope winds rushing off the Kamakou Volcano in Molokai, which rises 4,961 feet above sea level. The observation highlights how Hawaii\u2019s mountainous terrain can amplify winds even far from the hurricane\u2019s core.<\/p>\n 8:04 PM ET 4 HRS AgoBreaking News8 p.m ET advisory: Hurricane Lala continues northwest as Big Island terrain disrupts storm<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center\u2019s 2 p.m. HT (8 p.m. ET) update shows Hurricane Lala continuing northwest at 8 mph as it interacts with the Big Island\u2019s massive volcanic terrain.<\/p>\n Now located just 50 miles south of South Point and about 250 miles southeast of Honolulu, the Category 1 hurricane maintains maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and a central pressure of 988 mb.<\/p>\n \nDamaging winds are expected to persist across portions of the Big Island into Saturday night before spreading westward across the smaller Hawaiian Islands through Sunday.<\/p>\n 7:58 PM ET 4 HRS AgoBreaking NewsNational Hurricane Center releases full 8 p.m. ET bulletin on Hurricane Lala<\/p>\n \nThe National Hurricane Center has just published its comprehensive 8 p.m. ET (2 p.m. HT) advisory for Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n The FOX Forecast Center is currently combing through the newly updated forecast track and revised intensity guidance as the Category 1 hurricane maintains its path near the Big Island.<\/p>\n We are breaking down the latest satellite images, radar trends, and surface wind observations to see how terrain interaction is shaping Lala\u2019s forward speed and track heading into the evening.<\/p>\n Stay tuned as we publish a detailed breakdown of the complete advisory package shortly.<\/p>\n 7:51 PM ET 4 HRS AgoBreaking NewsNearly 40,000 without power across Hawaii as Hurricane Lala takes a toll<\/p>\n Hurricane Lala\u2019s impacts are taking a toll on Hawaii\u2019s power grid, with nearly 40,000 customers without electricity across the state as damaging winds and heavy rain batter the islands.<\/p>\n According to PowerOutage.com<\/a>, 37,985 customers were without power as of Saturday evening, with the overwhelming majority of outages reported on the Big Island.<\/p>\n Hawaii County reported 28,941 customers without power, while Maui County had 7,046 outages.<\/p>\n The impacts have been less significant elsewhere across the island chain, though outages in Honolulu County on Oahu and Kauai County show Lala\u2019s effects are still being felt beyond the hardest-hit areas.<\/p>\n \nThe outages come as Lala brings dangerous winds and torrential rainfall to parts of Hawaii, with hurricane-force winds and heavy rains continue to lash the island chain.<\/p>\n 7:19 PM ET 4 HRS AgoPowerful 140-mph wind gust recorded atop Hawaii’s tallest summit<\/p>\n A preliminary local storm report from the National Weather Service indicates a powerful 140 mph wind gust was recorded atop Mauna Kea on Hawaii\u2019s Big Island.<\/p>\n The extreme gust was measured at 12:15 p.m. HST at an elevation of 13,803 feet on Hawaii\u2019s tallest summit.<\/p>\n The high-flying Hawaiian mountains play a pivotal role in how the storm impacts the island chain, forcing tropical moisture up the steep terrain, which can dramatically enhance rainfall and increase the threat of flash flooding and landslides.<\/p>\n \nAt the same time, Hawaii\u2019s rugged volcanic peaks can disrupt a hurricane\u2019s circulation, altering its winds, forward speed and even its track as it passes near or over the islands.<\/p>\n 7:16 PM ET 4 HRS AgoLive Report: Hurricane Lala lashes Hawaii\u2019s eastern coast with heavy rain, high winds<\/p>\n \nOn the eastern coast of Hawaii\u2019s Big Island, just north of Hilo, FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel has a front-row seat to Hurricane Lala\u2019s impacts.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n As the hurricane moves near Hawaii, torrential rain, dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surge remain in the forecast. FOX Weather will continue tracking Lala\u2019s every move as the storm unleashes its impacts across the island chain.<\/p>\n 7:10 PM ET 5 HRS Ago7 p.m. ET update: Hurricane Lala brings heavy rain, strong winds to the Big Island<\/p>\n Heavy rainbands from Hurricane Lala are spreading across the Big Island this evening, bringing heavy rainfall and tropical storm-force winds.<\/p>\n As of the 1 p.m. HST position update, Lala was located about 50 miles south-southeast of South Point, moving northwest at 8 mph. Maximum sustained winds remain near 75 mph.<\/p>\n Strong winds are already being observed across southern portions of the island. Near South Point, sustained winds of 42 mph with a gust to 63 mph were reported, while a site south of Volcano recorded a gust to 48 mph.<\/p>\n \nConditions will continue to deteriorate as Lala approaches. Residents should remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel \u2014 especially in areas experiencing heavy rain \u2014 and continue following guidance from local emergency officials.<\/p>\n 7:00 PM ET 5 HRS AgoAnalysis: How Hawaii\u2019s mountains are slowing Hurricane Lala<\/p>\n FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross analyzes Hurricane Lala as it approaches Hawaii at a sluggish pace of just 8 mph, with the storm\u2019s forward motion being influenced by the islands\u2019 towering mountainous terrain.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n \nNorcross breaks down Lala\u2019s current structure and movement, what could happen as the hurricane interacts with Hawaii\u2019s rugged terrain and what residents can expect next as the storm creeps toward the Pacific island chain.<\/p>\n 6:33 PM ET 5 HRS Ago6 p.m. ET update: Lala continues to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the Big Island<\/p>\n \nHurricane Lala is continuing to bring heavy rainfall and gust winds to the Big Island of Hawaii as the storm approaches, the National Hurricane Center\u2019s 6 p.m. ET (12 p.m. HT) statement update said.<\/p>\n Hurricane Lala is continuing it’s northwest trek at 8 mph and is located just 60 miles south-southeast of South Point.<\/p>\n Lala remains a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and a central pressure of 988 mb.<\/p>\n According to the NHC, a weather observation site near South Point, at an elevation of about 550 feet, recently recorded sustained winds of 41 mph and a gust of 59 mph as conditions deteriorate across the southern Big Island.<\/p>\n Farther east, an observation site at Kealakomo, south of Volcano and at an elevation of about 100 feet, recently reported a wind gust of 51 mph.<\/p>\n 6:12 PM ET 5 HRS AgoOfficials urge residents to shelter in place as flooding, outages worsen<\/p>\n Hawaii County officials are urging residents to shelter in place and stay off the roads as Hurricane Lala brings dangerous flooding and widespread power outages to the Big Island.<\/p>\n \nIn a recent update, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said a Flash Flood Warning is in effect for the windward side of the Big Island, from North Kohala to the Ka\u02bbu District, with rainfall rates of 1 to 2.5 inches per hour being reported.<\/p>\n Officials warned that flooding is life-threatening and urged people in flood-prone areas to remain alert and move to higher ground if necessary.<\/p>\n Multiple roads have also been closed because of landslides, downed trees and utility lines, while widespread power outages are being reported across the island.<\/p>\n \u201cContinue to shelter-in-place and stay off the roads until the hurricane passes,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n 5:39 PM ET 6 HRS AgoAnalysis: Lala impacts slamming Hawaii as the storm brushes closer<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross gives the latest exclusive analysis on Hurricane Lala as it races toward Hawaii.<\/p>\n The Category 1 storm is already bringing heavy rains and near hurricane-force winds to the Big Island.<\/p>\n 5:27 PM ET 6 HRS AgoBreaking NewsPower outages start to climb as Hurricane Lala lashes Hawaii<\/p>\n Power outages are mounting across Hawaii as Hurricane Lala brings increasingly strong winds and heavy rain to the islands.<\/p>\n Nearly 24,000 customers statewide are without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us<\/a>, with the Big Island bearing the brunt of the outages.<\/p>\n \nThe numbers have risen sharply as conditions deteriorate. Earlier Saturday, Hawaiian Electric reported roughly 4,000 customers without power on Hawaii Island.<\/p>\n Officials are warning residents to be prepared for extended outages as crews may have to wait for conditions to become safe before assessing damage and making repairs.<\/p>\n 5:19 PM ET 6 HRS Ago \nPowerful winds are picking up across the Big Island as Hurricane Lala closes in, with the strongest gust so far reaching 78 mph in Holualoa.<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center says tropical-storm conditions \u2014 including gusts reaching hurricane force \u2014 are already occurring on the Big Island, particularly in higher terrain. Forecasters warn winds could continue to strengthen as Lala interacts with the island this afternoon and evening.<\/p>\n Lala strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and higher gusts.<\/p>\n 4:47 PM ET 7 HRS AgoBreaking NewsBig Island terrain creates erratic track for newly formed Hurricane Lala<\/p>\n Radar and satellite observations show Hurricane Lala’s structure improving this afternoon, featuring a ragged eye and 70-knot high-altitude wind patches detected near South Point.<\/p>\n However, as the Category 1 system closes in, the Big Island’s massive volcanic terrain is actively reshaping the storm’s path, forcing Lala to slow down and turn northwest (305 degrees at 7 knots).<\/p>\n \nComputer forecast models indicate the hurricane’s center is getting pulled toward the Big Island while a broad low or lee-side trough develops to the west. This dynamic creates a potentially erratic or “discontinuous” track that will not be reflected neatly in official cone forecast graphics, making a traditional landfall uncertain.<\/p>\n While terrain interaction is expected to significantly weaken Lala as it passes south of the remaining Hawaiian Islands, forecasters note the cyclone could regain strength after 48 hours as it tracks westward toward the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands later next week.<\/p>\n 4:44 PM ET 7 HRS AgoBreaking News5 p.m. ET advisory: Lala turns northwest and slows down as terrain interaction begins<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center\u2019s 5 p.m. ET (11 a.m. HT) advisory reveals that Hurricane Lala has slowed its forward progress to 8 mph while turning northwest, directly responding to interaction with the Big Island\u2019s massive volcanic terrain.<\/p>\n \nNow located just 65 miles south-southeast of South Point, the Category 1 system maintains maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and a central pressure of 988 mb.<\/p>\n This friction-induced deceleration and track shift mean severe tropical weather will linger longer over Hawaii County.<\/p>\n As Lala’s eyewall edges closer, winds are expected to build significantly across the Big Island through the afternoon, driving dangerous gusts down mountain slopes and pushing torrential, flood-producing rainbands continuously across the island.<\/p>\n 4:43 PM ET 7 HRS AgoBreaking NewsNational Hurricane Center releases full 5 p.m. ET bulletin on Hurricane Lala<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center has just published its comprehensive 5 p.m. ET (11 a.m. HT) advisory for Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n The FOX Forecast Center is currently combing through the newly updated forecast track and revised intensity guidance as the Category 1 hurricane maintains its path near the Big Island.<\/p>\n \nWe are breaking down the latest satellite images, radar trends, and surface wind observations to see how terrain interaction is shaping Lala\u2019s forward speed and track heading into the evening.<\/p>\n Stay tuned as we publish a detailed breakdown of the complete advisory package shortly.<\/p>\n 4:42 PM ET 7 HRS AgoAnalysis: How Hawaii’s massive volcanic peaks are redirecting and steering Lala<\/p>\n FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross highlights a crucial atmospheric dynamic unfolding south of the state: Hawaii’s massive terrain is actively altering Hurricane Lala’s track and structure in real time.<\/p>\n The towering 13,000-foot landmasses of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea act as giant physical barriers to lower-level atmospheric airflow, creating a localized high-pressure cushion or “island blocking” effect.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n 4:32 PM ET 7 HRS AgoBreaking News The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Hawaii County, in effect until 1:00 p.m. HT.<\/p>\n Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicate that Hurricane Lala\u2019s feeder bands are dropping relentless, heavy rain across the Big Island, causing rapid runoff and immediate water accumulation in low-lying areas.<\/p>\n Emergency officials warn that rivers, streams, and gulches across the island are rapidly overflowing, making travel treacherous.<\/p>\n Residents in flood-prone locations should move to higher ground immediately and avoid crossing flooded roadways, as rapid-moving water and potential mudslides pose a life-threatening danger throughout the warning period.<\/p>\n 4:21 PM ET 7 HRS AgoDeveloping StoryAwaiting NHC’s 5 p.m. advisory as Hurricane Lala skirts the Big Island<\/p>\n Meteorologists at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center and National Hurricane Center are preparing to issue the comprehensive 5 p.m. ET (11 a.m. HST) advisory on Hurricane Lala.<\/p>\n \nFollowing a flurry of intermediate position updates that tracked the storm reaching Category 1 status with 75 mph winds and a forming eye, this full package will deliver updated forecast track models, revised intensity trends, and official wind-field radii adjustments.<\/p>\n The upcoming advisory will provide critical guidance on whether Lala’s recent northward wobbles are setting up a sustained shift toward land or if the core will maintain its westward passage just south of South Point.<\/p>\n Stay tuned as we break down the full 5 p.m. update as soon as it drops.<\/p>\n 4:14 PM ET 7 HRS AgoHonolulu merchants stack sandbags to guard storefronts against Lala<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne says storefronts and commercial venues across Honolulu are lining doorways and ground-floor entryways with sandbags as Hurricane Lala\u2019s expansive cloud canopy sweeps toward O\u02bbahu.<\/p>\n \nWith torrential rainbands capable of dumping extreme rain totals and overwhelming urban drainage networks, local merchants are moving quickly to safeguard inventory and prevent water intrusion.<\/p>\n Honolulu officials have urged property and business owners in low-lying corridors and near urban streams to finalize all flood barriers and site preparations immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4:04 PM ET 8 HRS AgoDowned tree blocks lane on Hana Highway on Maui<\/p>\n \nA fallen tree has blocked one lane along the Hana Highway (Route 360) near Mile Marker 19 on Maui.<\/p>\n Road crews are currently on scene working to clear the debris and restore full access to the narrow, winding corridor.<\/p>\n Drivers traveling along the East Maui route should exercise extreme caution, anticipate slowdowns, and give emergency response crews plenty of space to operate.<\/p>\n 3:57 PM ET 8 HRS Ago4 p.m. update: Hurricane Lala packs 75 mph winds just 75 miles from South Point<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center’s 4 p.m. ET (10 a.m. HST) update shows Hurricane Lala continuing its close approach, now positioned just 75 miles south-southeast of South Point, Hawaii.<\/p>\n Surface observation stations are actively reflecting the storm’s escalating wind field, with a site near South Point (elevation 550 feet) recently reporting a sustained wind of 41 mph and a peak gust reaching 64 mph.<\/p>\n \nMaintaining maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, a central pressure of 988 mb, and a west-northwest forward motion at 9 mph, Lala’s core continues to drive powerful winds and torrents of rain onto the Big Island.<\/p>\n 3:41 PM ET 8 HRS AgoNHC: Conditions to worsen in Hawaii as near-landfall forecast<\/p>\n Hurricane Lala continues to race toward the Hawaiian Islands, with conditions deteriorating as the day progresses.<\/p>\n National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan joined FOX Weather to talk about the impacts in the coming hours with Lala’s near-landfall on the Big Island.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n 3:33 PM ET 8 HRS AgoHeavy rain bands hammer Hilo as Hurricane Lala approaches<\/p>\n \nThe eastern coast of the Big Island is taking a direct hit from Hurricane Lala\u2019s primary feeder bands, with Hilo currently getting hammered by torrential downpours and intense squalls.<\/p>\n \nHeavy rain is coming down in blinding sheets along the windward shore, rapidly reducing visibility and driving dangerous water runoff across coastal roads.<\/p>\n As Lala’s core passes just south, wind gusts are driving these rain squalls ashore with continuous force, pushing local drainage systems to their limit.<\/p>\n 3:30 PM ET 8 HRS AgoDeveloping StoryRadar tracks northward wobble as Lala’s eye closes in on Hawaii<\/p>\n Recent high-resolution Doppler radar imagery analyzed by the FOX Forecast Center shows Hurricane Lala undergoing a short-term wobble, with a distinct northward shift detected in its low-level center.<\/p>\n Tropical systems frequently wobble as their eyewalls reorganize, but even minor track shifts carry major consequences when passing this close to the Hawaiian Islands.<\/p>\n A slight jog to the north pushes Lala\u2019s most dangerous eyewall winds and intense rainbands even closer to the Big Island’s southern coastlines.<\/p>\n Meteorologists are tracking radar loops closely to determine if this northward motion is a temporary fluctuation or a sustained change in direction that could bring the core into closer proximity to land.<\/p>\n \nResidents islandwide should prepare for conditions to rapidly worsen if the storm continues to jog closer to shore.<\/p>\n 3:23 PM ET 8 HRS Ago50 mph winds whip Maui as Hurricane Lala spins closer<\/p>\n While Hurricane Lala’s eye approaches the Big Island, powerful tropical-storm-force winds are expanding northward across Maui County.<\/p>\n Powerful squalls are bringing sustained winds over 30 mph, with wind gusts topping 50 mph whipping across lowlands and funneling through mountain passes.<\/p>\n 3:17 PM ET 8 HRS AgoAnalysis: Mountain friction slows Hurricane Lala, threatening longer-lasting deluges<\/p>\n As Hurricane Lala interacts with the massive volcanic peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, forward movement has begun to slow down more than originally forecast.<\/p>\n While high terrain disrupts a storm’s inner circulation, the friction can also cause the system to drag its feet\u2014anchoring heavy moisture bands over the same areas for a prolonged period.<\/p>\n A slower-moving storm significantly increases total rain accumulation. Instead of rainbands passing through quickly, torrential downpours are now set to train over the Big Island’s steep topography for several extra hours, dramatically escalating the risk of catastrophic flash flooding, destructive debris flows, and mudslides.<\/p>\n The FOX Forecast Center team is actively tracking its forward-speed as this dangerous terrain interaction unfolds.<\/p>\n 3:14 PM ET 8 HRS AgoDowned trees force closure of Route 250 in Hawaii County<\/p>\n Hawai\u02bbi Police Department has issued a full closure of Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) between Hawai\u02bbi Preparatory Academy (HPA) and the Akoni Pule Highway (Route 270) junction in H\u0101w\u012b due to severe storm hazards.<\/p>\n Hurricane-force wind gusts and saturated soil from Hurricane Lala have brought down large tree limbs, branches, and trees across the roadway, creating hazardous driving conditions.<\/p>\n Authorities urge drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes like Akoni Pule Highway until crews can clear the debris and render the corridor safe.<\/p>\n 3:09 PM ET 9 HRS AgoSchools, libraries, campuses shutter across Hawaii<\/p>\n Statewide operations are grinding to a halt across Hawaii as agencies shutter public facilities to prepare for Hurricane Lala’s impacts.<\/p>\n The Department of Education has canceled all weekend extracurricular activities and athletics, closing public school campuses across Hawai\u02bbi Island, Maui, L\u0101na\u02bbi, Moloka\u02bbi, O\u02bbahu, and Kaua\u02bbi through Sunday.<\/p>\n \nExecutive Office on Early Learning Pre-K classrooms and public charter schools are mirroring those closures, while decisions regarding Monday classes will be made after post-storm assessments.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Hawai\u02bbi State Public Library System has closed major branches across Hawai\u02bbi Island\u2014including Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Thelma Parker Memorial\u2014along with canceling all weekend public programs.Higher education and cultural sites are also locking down across the region.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n University of Hawai\u02bbi campuses at Hilo and Hawai\u02bbi Community College have temporarily closed all offices, off-campus locations, and facilities like the \u02bbImiloa Astronomy Center, with Maunakea Visitors Center restricting access strictly to essential personnel.<\/p>\n \nUH Hilo residence halls remain open with staff on site for students moving in early, while athletic events like UH M\u0101noa soccer games have been rescheduled.<\/p>\n Public officials continue to urge everyone to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until all facilities can be safely reopened.<\/p>\n 3:08 PM ET 9 HRS AgoAnalysis: Lala may skip landfall, but catastrophic impacts remain guaranteed<\/p>\n \nAs Hurricane Lala moves west just south of Hawaii, FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross says he expects the center to remain offshore rather than making an official landfall.<\/p>\n However, Norcross emphasizes that whether the eye technically crosses coastline geography is purely a meteorological distinction\u2014not a change in on-the-ground reality.<\/p>\n Because Lala’s active eyewall and vast moisture canopy span hundreds of miles, the storm’s worst hazards are slamming directly into the islands regardless.<\/p>\n Torrential tropical downpours are pushing up Hawaii’s steep volcanic slopes to generate catastrophic flash flooding and landslides, while hurricane-force gusts continue to knock out power and whip coastal areas.<\/p>\n Norcross stresses that residents must focus on the widespread, severe impacts stretching across the entire state rather than tracking the exact location of the storm’s center.<\/p>\n 3:00 PM ET 9 HRS AgoHurricane Lala: NHC upgrades storm to Category 1 hurricane<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n The 3 p.m. ET (9 a.m. HST) bulletin from the National Hurricane Center confirms that Tropical Storm Lala has officially crossed the threshold to become a Category 1 hurricane.<\/p>\n Maximum sustained winds have reached 75 mph as the eye feature observed on satellite consolidates just south of the Big Island.<\/p>\n Moving west along its tracking corridor, Hurricane Lala\u2019s transition to a Category 1 system reinforces the extreme danger facing Hawaii.<\/p>\n Hurricane-force wind gusts are now spreading across southern portions of the Big Island and high-elevation passes, while intense, station-anchored rainbands continue to dump catastrophic precipitation totals over mountain slopes.<\/p>\n Residents islandwide must remain sheltered in place as hurricane conditions persist throughout the day.<\/p>\n 2:49 PM ET 9 HRS AgoSatellite imagery reveals eye feature forming in Lala’s core<\/p>\n Fresh visible satellite imagery reveals that Tropical Storm Lala is taking another significant step in its structural organization, with an eye feature beginning to clear out just south of the Big Island.<\/p>\n Deep thunderstorm activity is wrapping tightly around the circulation center, signaling that the system is consolidating rapidly over warm waters.<\/p>\n 2:47 PM ET 9 HRS AgoUp to 30 inches of rain: Topography amplifies Lala’s flood threat<\/p>\n As Tropical Storm Lala\u2019s deep convective canopy envelops the Hawaiian Islands, FOX Weather meteorologists warn that catastrophic rain totals could reach up to 30 inches in isolated, windward mountain locations.<\/p>\n While coastal areas can expect general totals of 8 to 12 inches, Hawaii\u2019s dramatic elevation changes act as a massive atmospheric force multiplier\u2014squeezing incredible amounts of tropical moisture directly out of the passing storm.<\/p>\n \nWhen Lala\u2019s moisture-laden wind field slams into the towering 13,000-plus-foot slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the air is rapidly forced upward, cooling and condensing into intense, stationary rainbands.<\/p>\n This extreme topographic lifting will produce dangerous runoff, sending torrents of water surging down gulches, overflowing rivers, and creating widespread, life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across the Big Island and neighboring Maui County through the weekend.<\/p>\n 2:21 PM ET 9 HRS AgoPower outages top 10,000 on Big Island as Lala’s winds intensify<\/p>\n Power outages on the Big Island are escalating rapidly as Tropical Storm Lala’s core passes just offshore, with tracking data from PowerOutage.com<\/a> indicating more than 10,000 customers are now without electricity across Hawaii County.<\/p>\n Tropical-storm-force wind gusts interacting with waterlogged soil are causing trees, large limbs, and utility poles to collapse across power corridors.<\/p>\n \nHawaiian Electric has response teams standing by, but utility officials stress that crew deployment will be restricted in areas where sustained high winds, active flooding, or dangerous mountain squalls make field repairs unsafe.<\/p>\n 2:18 PM ET 9 HRS AgoAnalysis: Lala’s center tightening as storm spins 90 miles from South Point<\/p>\n In his breakdown of the National Hurricane Center\u2019s 2 p.m. ET (8 a.m. HST) advisory, FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross emphasizes that Tropical Storm Lala has strengthened to 70 mph, sitting just 4 mph below hurricane status.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n 2:10 PM ET 9 HRS AgoBig Island lashed by dangerous wind gusts and torrential rain as Lala hits<\/p>\n \nTropical Storm Lala is delivering its full power to Hawaii County, pounding the Big Island with torrential rain downpours and dangerous tropical-storm-force wind gusts.<\/p>\n With the storm’s organized core passing just offshore, the outer bands are sweeping across the island, driving rain rates capable of causing rapid stream rises and severe flash flooding.<\/p>\n Terrain is severely amplifying the storm’s impact. As Lala\u2019s broad wind field hits Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, winds are accelerating down leeward slopes and through mountain passes, while moisture is being forced upward into localized deluges.<\/p>\n Emergency officials urge residents islandwide to stay off the roads and remain indoors as squalls and blinding rain conditions continue throughout the day.<\/p>\n 2:07 PM ET 10 HRS AgoAnalysis: Skipping landfall could allow Lala to strengthen further<\/p>\n As Tropical Storm Lala maintains a steady westward track just south of South Point, FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross cautions that avoiding direct landfall actually makes the storm more dangerous.<\/p>\n \nBy remaining over open ocean waters, Lala avoids the disruptive friction of Hawaii’s massive volcanic landmass, allowing its organized core to remain fully fueled and potentially strengthen into a hurricane while continuously slinging torrential rainbands, high surf, and tropical-storm-force winds across the islands throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n 2:03 PM ET 10 HRS AgoAnalysis: Why a 70 mph label doesn’t capture Tropical Storm Lala’s true threat<\/p>\n With maximum sustained winds now reaching 70 mph, Tropical Storm Lala is knocking right on the door of Category 1 hurricane status.<\/p>\n On the official Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a tropical cyclone only earns the “hurricane” label once its 1-minute maximum sustained wind speed reaches 74 mph.<\/p>\n While crossing that arbitrary 4-mph line carries major psychological significance for public awareness, meteorologists warn against over-focusing on the number itself.<\/p>\n \nThe Saffir-Simpson Scale is strictly a 1-to-5 measurement of maximum sustained wind speed\u2014and wind represents only a fraction of a tropical cyclone’s destruction potential. The scale completely ignores water-based hazards, which historically account for the vast majority of storm-related fatalities and damage:<\/p>\n Torrential elevation rain: Lala’s waterlogged canopy is driving up to 25 inches of rain into the steep terrain of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, triggering catastrophic runoff regardless of whether sustained winds sit at 70 mph or 75 mph.Storm surge and deadly seas: Build-up of coastal water and life-threatening high surf along south- and east-facing shores operate independently of a storm’s exact category rank.Broad wind field: Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward over 200 miles from Lala’s center, meaning power outages and tree damage will be widespread across islands far removed from the eye.<\/p>\n Whether Lala officially reaches the 74-mph benchmark before passing South Point or remains a top-tier tropical storm, the real-world hazards on the ground will be identical. Focus on the water threats\u2014flash flooding, mudslides, and coastal inundation\u2014rather than the category number.\n<\/p>\n 1:57 PM ET 10 HRS Ago2 p.m. ET advisory: Lala nears hurricane strength with 70 mph winds<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center’s 2 p.m. ET (8 a.m. HST) advisory confirms that Tropical Storm Lala has strengthened, with maximum sustained winds jumping to 70 mph and minimum central pressure dropping to 990 mb.<\/p>\n \nPositioned just 90 miles south-southeast of South Point, the storm is now sitting just 4 mph shy of Category 1 hurricane threshold as its central core reorganizes.<\/p>\n Moving due west at 12 mph, Lala’s intense inner rainbands are slamming directly into the Big Island.<\/p>\n With tropical-storm-force winds expanding outward up to 205 miles and terrain forcing pushing moisture up mountain slopes, forecasters warn that life-threatening flash flooding, mudslides, and damaging wind gusts will severely impact all Hawaiian islands throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n 1:55 PM ET 10 HRS Ago2 p.m. ET advisory: NHC issues latest update on Tropical Storm Lala<\/p>\n The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has just released its official 2 p.m. ET (8 a.m. HST) advisory on Tropical Storm Lala, and the FOX Forecast Center is actively analyzing the latest stats.<\/p>\n We are examining the new coordinates to see if Lala’s center continues to nudge slightly south of South Point, as well as evaluating central pressure and wind data to check for signs of strengthening toward hurricane threshold.<\/p>\n \nStand by\u2014we will deliver a complete breakdown of the fresh numbers, updated forecast cone, and expanding local hazards shortly.<\/p>\n 1:46 PM ET 10 HRS AgoPower outages surge: thousands in the dark across Hawaii County<\/p>\n Power outages are rising rapidly across Hawaii County as Tropical Storm Lala\u2019s expanding tropical-storm-force wind field lashes the Big Island.<\/p>\n According to tracking data from PowerOutage.com, more than 5% of electricity customers on the Big Island are without power, with numbers continuing to climb as squalls sweep through local neighborhoods.<\/p>\n 1:39 PM ET 10 HRS AgoAnalysis: Bryan Norcross breaks down Lala’s strengthening impacts on Hawaii<\/p>\n In this video analysis, FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross breaks down the escalating threats as Tropical Storm Lala closes in on the Hawaiian Islands.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n 1:31 PM ET 10 HRS AgoSecond rainbow spotted in Kapolei as Lala’s outer bands charge west<\/p>\n \nFollowing earlier views over Waikiki, another vivid rainbow was just captured on live camera feeds farther west in Kapolei on West Oahu.<\/p>\n Sunlight filtering through localized, passing showers continues to create brief, striking visuals across the island ahead of Tropical Storm Lala’s main cloud deck.<\/p>\n 1:29 PM ET 10 HRS AgoRainbow appears over Waikiki as Lala’s outer rain bands approach Oahu<\/p>\n Even with Tropical Storm Lala closing in on the Hawaiian Islands, nature offered a brief moment of beauty over Oahu.<\/p>\n Live video from the EarthCam at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu<\/a> captured a vivid rainbow stretching over Waikiki Beach as the storm’s outer moisture bands began to spread across the area.<\/p>\n 1:23 PM ET 10 HRS AgoAwaiting 2 p.m. ET advisory: NHC to update Lala’s strength<\/p>\n All eyes are on the National Hurricane Center as forecasters prepare to release the intermediate 2 p.m. ET (8 a.m. HST) advisory on Tropical Storm Lala.<\/p>\n \nFollowing hours of hourly position reports, this bulletin will deliver an updated intensity and fresh location positioning as the core makes its closest approach to South Point.<\/p>\n 1:19 PM ET 10 HRS Ago
\nBreaking News10 p.m. ET advisory: Lala\u2019s eyewall nears South Point, Hawaii<\/p>\n
\nStrong wind gusts batter the Big Island as Hurricane Lala approaches<\/p>\n
\nFlash Flood Warning issued for Hawaii County until 1 p.m. HT<\/p>\n
\nState of emergency issued for Hawaii as Lala’s core moves in<\/p>\n