Honolulu Star-Advertiser-Tropical Storm Lala
"Lala forecast to make landfall on Big Island as hurricane before weakening."
Views expressed in this Hawaii storm update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 14 August 2026, 2215 UTC.
Content and Source: "Honolulu Star-Advertiser-Tropical Storm Lala."
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/08/14/breaking-news/lala-on-path-to-reach-big-island-as-hurricane-oahu-kauai-under-tropical-storm-watch/
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsmonitor.blogspot.com).
Lala nears Big Island as hurricane conditions loom Saturday
COURTESY CPHC
The forecast map for Tropical Storm Lala as of 8 a.m. today
UPDATE: 8 a.m.
Tropical Storm Lala is getting better organized and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii island, with dangerous conditions beginning as early as today.
As of 8 a.m. today, Lala had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and was about 365 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 205 miles north of the center, according to CPHC forecasters.
The storm is expected to pass near Hawaii island on Saturday before tracking south of the smaller islands on Sunday.
Oahu and Kauai are both under tropical storm watches, meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 to 48 hours. Maui County remains under a tropical storm warning, while Hawaii island is under a hurricane warning.
The National Weather Service said damaging tropical-storm-force winds could begin affecting parts of Hawaii island as early as tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach Maui County on Saturday and could affect Oahu and Kauai later Saturday into Sunday.
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Forecasters are calling for 8 to 12 inches across Hawaii island and Maui, with localized maximums of 25 inches possible on Hawaii island. The NWS says 10 to 15 inches could fall in windward and upslope areas of Hawaii island, with up to 25 inches possible in localized areas.
Flood watches are in effect for Hawaii island and Maui County beginning this evening, and for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau beginning Saturday evening. Forecasters warn that heavy rain could trigger flash flooding and rapidly rising streams, including in areas away from the storm’s center.
Surf conditions are also expected to deteriorate rapidly. A high surf warning takes effect at 6 p.m. today for the east-facing shores of Hawaii island and Maui. The NWS expects Big Island surf to rise from 8 to 12 feet tonight to 15 to 20 feet Saturday, while Maui could see surf increase from 7 to 10 feet tonight to 10 to 15 feet on Satuday.
The storm is also expected to bring increasingly rough marine conditions, heavy rain, low visibility and strong winds across the islands.
On Oahu, officials are preparing for the possibility of impacts while the island remains under a tropical storm watch. The city’s Emergency Operations Center and Honolulu Police Department Joint Operations Center were scheduled to be activated at 7 a.m. today.
Fire danger remains elevated today before Lala’s tropical moisture arrives, as strengthening tradewinds combine with dry conditions. NWS forecasters said wildfire concerns should diminish as Lala brings increasing humidity and rainfall beginning Saturday.
EARLIER COVERAGE
Tropical Storm Lala maintained its strength overnight and is on track to move over, or just south of, Hawaii island Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane, then pass further south of the rest of the state over the weekend.
The Big Island remains under a hurricane warning; Maui County is still under a tropical storm warning; and Oahu and Kauai were placed under tropical storm watches this morning, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
Hawaii island and Maui are also under a flood watch from this evening through late Saturday night and Sunday, while Kauai and Oahu under the watch from Saturday evening to Sunday night.
At 5 a.m., Lala had 60 mph maximum sustained winds and was centered 420 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 635 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 205 miles north of the center, according to CPHC forecasters.
“Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island,” they said.
The latest five-day track has Lala as a minimal hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and higher gusts, passing over or just south of the Big Island Saturday afternoon, then moving further south of the smaller islands through the weekend as a strong tropical storm.
State and county officials warn the public to get ready for significant and dangerous weather impacts, starting today on Hawaii island.
The hurricane center said hazards from the storm include:
>> Wind: “Hurricane conditions are expected on the Big Island of Hawaii Saturday, with tropical storm conditions expected in Maui County Saturday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Oahu and Kauai Counties on Sunday. Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of slopes and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.”
>> Rain: “Tropical Storm Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the Big Island, with maximum totals of 25 inches possible across the Big Island. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches is expected across the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.”
“Lala will bring heavy rain to the state, especially Big Island and Maui, beginning Friday evening and likely extending through Saturday night,” forecasters said. “At this time, amounts of 10 to 15 inches are possible over upslope/windward areas of Big Island, with 8 to 12 inches over upslope/windward areas of Maui. Higher localized amounts are possible, up to 25 inches on Big Island and up to 15 inches on Maui.”
>> Storm surge: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach 1 to 3 feet above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. “The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.” A storm surge graphic is available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_cp2.shtml?peakSurge.
>> Waves: “Swells generated by Lala are expected to reach the east-facing shores of the state today, spreading westward and building through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.”
Maui and the Big Island are under a high surf warning from 6 p.m. today through 6 a.m. Sunday. “For the Big Island, dangerously large surf increasing from 8 to 12 feet tonight to 15 to 20 feet on Saturday,” the National Weather Service warning said. “For Maui, dangerously large surf increasing from 7 to 10 feet tonight to 10 to 15 feet on Saturday.”
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Hawaii County officials announced a list of emergency shelters that they plan to open at 6 p.m. Friday before the worst of the storm hits the island Saturday. They are:
>> Hisaoka Gym in North Kohala
>> Waikoloa Elementary School Cafeteria, Waikoloa Village
>> Kahilu Town Hall, Waimea
>> Honokaa Armory, Honokaa
>> Laupahoehoe Charter School Band Room, Laupahoehoe
>> Waiakea High School Gymnasium, Hilo
>> Keaau Armory, Keaau
>> Pahoa Community Center, Pahoa
>> Pahala Gymnasium, Pahala
>> Naalehu Elementary School Gymnasium, Naalehu
>> Yano Hall, Captain Cook
>> Kealakehe High School Gymnasium, Kailua-Kona
Anyone using the shelters should bring their own personal and sleeping supplies, officials said. All Hawaii County public transportation buses routes are canceled Saturday and Sunday.
On Oahu, city officials plan to activate its Emergency Operations Center at 7 a.m. today to coordinate operations, monitor conditions across the island and deploy resources as needed. The Honolulu Police Department’s Joint Operations Center will also activate at the same time.
“The City is also reminding residents that elevated wildfire danger remains a concern Friday as breezy trade winds combine with dry conditions ahead of the tropical moisture associated with Lala,” officials said in a news release.
