Disasters & Incidents
Lala could regain hurricane strength, NHC says
Tropical Storm Lala weakened as it moved west away from Hawaii's main islands, but the National Hurricane Center said it could become a hurricane again by Wednesday as cleanup continued after heavy rain across the state.
The storm did not make landfall. It had strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Saturday, with winds of up to 75 miles per hour, before being downgraded early Sunday. At 8:00 p.m. local time Sunday, the NHC said Lala was continuing westward away from the main Hawaiian islands and that there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect after the warning for Kauai County was discontinued.
The storm's outer bands were still bringing heavy rain to the Big Island and Maui. The NHC had forecast a maximum storm total of 30 to 35 inches of rain over windward Big Island.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said officials were still investigating whether any deaths were storm-related. He cited a car accident that could have been related to the storm and said officials also sometimes find a houseless person who may have died, making the question difficult to answer.
Hawaii Emergency Management Director Randy Collins warned that dangers remained during cleanup, including heavy equipment, chainsaws, generators and downed power lines.
The New York Times reported that parts of a major highway in the Big Island's southeast collapsed overnight, blocking road access to Pahala, which has the region's only hospital.
More than 20,000 customers in Hawaii had power outages Saturday afternoon, and Green had proclaimed a state of emergency as the storm approached. Hawaii was last hit by a major hurricane in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki caused at least six deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
Update
The National Hurricane Center said Sunday evening that Lala was weakening as it moved west away from the main Hawaiian islands.
The NHC said there were no coastal watches or warnings in effect after discontinuing the tropical storm warning for Kauai County.
The NHC said Lala could become a hurricane again by Wednesday.
The New York Times reported that parts of a major highway in southeast Big Island collapsed, blocking road access to Pahala.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 August 2026 at 07:04:22 UTC.
Update
Hurricane Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm early Sunday.
Damage assessments and cleanup efforts began on Hawaii's Big Island.
Hawaii officials were still investigating whether any storm-related deaths had occurred.
Hawaii's emergency management director warned of dangers during cleanup, including equipment, generators and downed power lines.
The rain and flood risk was spreading westward across the island chain on Sunday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 21:59:51 UTC.
Update
The National Hurricane Center said at 11:00 pm local time that Lala was pulling away from Hawaii's Big Island.
Forecasters said Lala appeared to have peaked in intensity near South Point and was expected to weaken by early Sunday.
The maximum storm total forecast for windward Big Island rose to 30 to 35 inches of rain.
The NHC said heavy rain, flooding and mudslides would continue into early Sunday over the Big Island and Maui, then spread west across the island chain.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 10:59:05 UTC.
Update
The National Hurricane Center said at 8:00 pm local time that hurricane conditions would persist on the Big Island overnight.
Lala came within 30 miles southwest of South Point on the Big Island on Saturday afternoon but did not make landfall.
Officials said Lala was moving northwest and was expected to turn gradually westward on Sunday while its core stayed south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 07:27:40 UTC.
Update
The eye of Hurricane Lala neared the southern part of Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center said in a 0300 GMT advisory that damaging hurricane-force winds were expected to continue on the Big Island into the overnight hours.
Officials said some erratic motion remained possible while Lala interacted with the Big Island.
Officials said the storm was expected to turn westward Sunday and increase its forward speed as its core remained south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through early next week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 03:37:34 UTC.
Update
Power outages were reported for more than 20,000 customers in Hawaii on Saturday afternoon.
Weather officials said damaging winds and heavy rain were spreading across the Big Island.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 01:58:57 UTC.
Update
Lala strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane at around 9:00 am local time, with winds up to 75 mph, or 120 kph.
A tropical storm warning was in place for Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau.
The US National Hurricane Center issued an updated 1800 GMT advisory warning of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, storm surge and dangerous surf.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 20:11:54 UTC.
Update
Tropical Storm Lala was dumping heavy rain on Hawaii's Big Island on Saturday.
The US National Hurricane Center said at 1500 GMT that tropical-storm-force winds were already beginning.
The National Hurricane Center said damaging hurricane-force winds were expected on the Big Island later Saturday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 15:26:14 UTC.
Update
Winds could gust up to 85 mph, or 137 kph, as Lala approaches Hawaii.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said his administration had spent days preparing and urged residents to finish preparations before conditions worsened.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 21:08:25 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Officials had not confirmed whether any deaths were related to the storm.
It was unclear whether the car accident cited by Governor Josh Green was storm-related.
Lala's possible return to hurricane strength was a forecast, not a confirmed outcome.
Source
AFP news report published on .