Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published August 15, 2026
HONOLULU — Tropical Storm Lala is closing in on Hawaii, with forecasters warning that the system could strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island, bringing potentially life-threatening flooding, mudslides, powerful winds and dangerous surf.
The storm was already affecting Hawaii early Saturday, with heavy rain and strong winds reaching the Big Island as Lala moved west-northwest toward the southern part of the island. The National Hurricane Center had a hurricane warning in effect for Hawaii County, while Maui County remained under a tropical storm warning.
Forecast models focus on Big Island
The latest forecast guidance continues to place the Big Island near the core of Lala’s projected path. While individual computer models can differ significantly on the exact track and intensity, forecasters have emphasized that even a relatively small shift in Lala’s path could dramatically change the severity of conditions experienced across Hawaii.
As of early Saturday, Lala was approximately 140 miles southeast of South Point on the Big Island, with maximum sustained winds of about 65 mph and moving west-northwest at roughly 13 mph.
The storm’s approach has prompted authorities to prepare for hurricane-force conditions regardless of whether the center makes a direct landfall.
“It doesn’t take landfall to create destruction,” National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza said, noting that significant impacts can occur well away from a storm’s center.
Up to 25 inches of rain possible
Rainfall is among the most serious threats associated with Lala.
The National Hurricane Center has forecast 8 to 12 inches of rainfall across parts of Maui and lower elevations of the Big Island, with isolated areas potentially receiving as much as 25 inches. Across the wider Hawaiian island chain, several inches of rain are possible.
Such rainfall could overwhelm drainage systems and trigger flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep and mountainous areas.
Officials are especially concerned about rural communities and residents living in vulnerable or off-grid structures on the southern portion of the Big Island.
A forecast map from the NHC shows Tropical Storm Lala’s path and where warnings have been issued. | NHC
Rare hurricane threat
Lala’s approach represents an unusually serious threat for Hawaii.
The hurricane warning for the Big Island raises the possibility of the island experiencing a hurricane landfall on a scale not seen for generations. Researchers have identified a Category 3 hurricane that struck the island in 1871, while the more recent major hurricane disaster remembered across the state was Hurricane Iniki, which struck Kauai in 1992.
If Lala reaches hurricane strength before reaching the island, residents could face damaging winds, power outages, fallen trees and dangerous travel conditions in addition to the flooding threat.
Other Hawaiian islands also at risk
The storm’s impacts are not expected to be limited to the Big Island.
Maui County—including Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe—has been placed under a tropical storm warning. Oahu and Kauai are also expected to experience effects from the storm, including heavy rainfall, large swells and potentially dangerous coastal conditions.
The National Hurricane Center has warned of life-threatening surf and rip currents, while storm surge and coastal flooding could compound the danger along exposed shorelines.
This spaghetti plot, which represents the tracks of different forecast models, shows Lala’s possible paths. | Tropical Tidbits
Hawaii declares state of emergency
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green declared a state of emergency as Lala approached, allowing state agencies to coordinate resources and emergency preparations.
Officials have urged residents to secure loose objects, clear drains and gutters, move valuables away from areas vulnerable to flooding and make sure emergency supplies are available.
Authorities are also urging people to stay away from beaches and coastal waters as dangerous surf and rip currents develop.
Wildfire concerns remain
Lala is also creating a secondary concern: wildfire risk.
Strong winds outside the storm’s immediate core can combine with relatively dry conditions in some areas, creating conditions favorable for rapidly spreading fires. Hawaii remains particularly sensitive to wildfire threats following the devastating 2023 Lahaina fire.
The combination of extreme weather hazards means residents may face flooding and mudslides in some areas while other locations remain vulnerable to wind-driven fires.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Tropical Storm Lala is no longer simply a distant threat to Hawaii. The storm is already producing rain and wind as it approaches the Big Island, with forecasters warning that it could strengthen into a hurricane. The greatest dangers are expected from heavy rainfall, flash flooding, mudslides, strong winds, storm surge and dangerous surf.
Residents across the Hawaiian Islands are being urged to take official warnings seriously and complete preparations before conditions deteriorate further
SOURCES: NEWSWEEK – Tropical Storm Lala Spaghetti Models As Hawaii Set To Be Hit In Hours
DAILYMAIL ONLINE – Hurricane warning issued as Hawaii braces for historic direct hit in hours
CNN WEATHER – Hawaii could see its first hurricane landfall in decades as Lala strengthens
