Hurricane Lala lashes Hawaii with strong winds and torrential rain
Hurricane Lala has brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to Hawaii, causing one death and widespread power outages. While the storm did not make direct landfall, it has triggered hurricane and tropical storm warnings across the island chain.
Why it matters
The event underscores the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events impacting island communities and the importance of emergency preparedness.
Figure caption, "It's actually hard for us to see... I've got a lot of water in my eyes," says a local reporter during a live TV broadcast on the Hawaii County coast
Strong winds and torrential rain are lashing Hawaii after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island on Saturday.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Lala got "closest to [Big Island's] South Point area", where a person died in weather-related a car accident.
Lala gained hurricane strength on Saturday after generating 80mph (130km/h) wind speeds, which have since peaked at 91mph. It could dump up to 25in (63cm) of rain and produce a 3ft storm surge.
Tens off thousands have been left without power and officials have warned people to prepare for "life-threatening" conditions, including floods and mudslides.
The storm is forecast to continue moving westward just south of Hawaii into Sunday morning.
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