Lala Skirts Big Island.
Hurricane Lala skirts Hawaii's Big Island, bringing heavy wind and rain to the region.
Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii's Big Island on Wednesday without making direct landfall, but the storm still lashed the region with heavy wind and rain, according to AP News. The hurricane has since begun to weaken as it moves away from the islands.
Meanwhile, at least six people have died in Indiana following days of severe storms and record-setting flooding, AP News reported. The back-to-back disasters have put emergency crews across the country on high alert.
Lala Brushes Big Island Without a Direct Hit
Hurricane Lala tracked close enough to Hawaii's Big Island to bring dangerous conditions, but never made a direct strike on land. That distinction matters — a landfall would have meant the storm's eye crossing the coastline, bringing the worst winds and storm surge directly ashore, according to AP News.
Even without landfall, residents felt the storm's force. Heavy rain and strong winds hit the Big Island hard. Officials had urged people to stay indoors and away from coastal areas. The storm is now expected to weaken as it moves further from the island chain.
Indiana Flooding Kills Six After Record Rainfall
Hundreds of miles away, Indiana was dealing with a deadly flood disaster. At least six people died after days of storms dumped record amounts of rain across the state, according to AP News. Officials described the flooding as historic in some areas.
Record-setting flooding is a key phrase here — it means water levels broke previous all-time records for those locations. Emergency crews worked to rescue stranded residents. The flooding left roads impassable and damaged homes across the region.
What Comes Next for Hawaii and the Storm Track
Forecasters expect Lala to continue weakening now that it has passed the Big Island. Storms lose strength quickly when they move over cooler water or encounter less favorable atmospheric conditions. Hawaii residents are likely to see conditions improve in the coming hours and days, AP News reported.
Still, residents were urged to stay cautious. Flooding and high surf can linger even after a storm's winds die down. Emergency managers typically keep warnings in place until conditions are clearly safe.
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