Hawaii Storm Impact
Tropical Storm Lala brings drenching rain and strong winds to Hawaii, causing widespread impact and warnings.
Hurricane Lala weakened back to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii's Big Island without making landfall — but the storm wasn't finished. It kept pounding the island with hurricane-force gusts and torrential rain, according to Houston Chronicle. At least one person died in a car accident, roughly 60,000 households lost power, and 190 flights were canceled.
Forecasters warned that higher elevations on the Big Island could receive up to 25 inches (63.5 cm) of rain. That level of rainfall can trigger life-threatening mudslides, especially in remote mountain areas where residents live off the grid, The Guardian reported.
Lala Skirts the Big Island but Still Hits Hard
The eye of the storm passed the southern tip of the Big Island without making a direct hit. That ruled out the worst-case scenario of a full landfall, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. But the near-miss still caused serious damage. Roads flooded and rivers turned into raging torrents across the island.
Nineteen roofs were torn off buildings. Tens of thousands of residents sat in the dark as power lines went down. Hurricane-force gusts continued even as the storm's official classification dropped from hurricane to tropical storm, according to SF Chronicle.
Rain and Mudslide Risk Threaten Off-Grid Communities
The biggest ongoing danger is rain. Forecasters said some parts of the Big Island's higher elevations could see a full 25 inches of rain before the storm moves on, MDJ Online reported. That is enough to saturate hillsides and send debris cascading down slopes.
The concern is especially sharp for people living off the grid in mountainous areas. These communities have fewer escape routes and less access to emergency services. Officials warned residents there to treat the mudslide risk as life-threatening.
Tropical Storm Warnings Spread Across the Island Chain
Even as the Big Island faced the worst of it, other islands were not spared. Tropical storm warnings remained in effect for Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Kauai, and Niihau, according to The Guardian. That covers a large stretch of the Hawaiian island chain.
Airlines had already pulled 190 flights before the storm passed through. Travelers across the state faced delays and cancellations. Authorities urged people to stay off roads and wait for official all-clear signals before heading out, Times Union reported.
One Death Reported as Emergency Response Ramps Up
The confirmed fatality came from a car accident tied to the storm's dangerous conditions. Details about the victim were not immediately released. Emergency crews worked to clear flooded roads and restore power to the roughly 60,000 households still without electricity, according to Dayton Daily News.
The storm's weakening from hurricane to tropical storm offered some relief, but meteorologists cautioned that heavy rain and gusty winds would continue as the system moved through the chain. Residents were told to remain cautious and monitor official updates closely.
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