Overview
- Lala strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday and tracked roughly 90 kilometers south of Hawaii’s Big Island before turning west and weakening.
- The National Weather Service warned of 25–50 centimeters of rain on windward slopes, and that life‑threatening flash floods, landslides and dangerous surf would occur.
- Officials said Monday that more than 180,000 households lost power, more than 100 homes were damaged or destroyed, and at least one weather‑related fatality was reported.
- State and county authorities opened shelters, suspended transport and closed schools during the storm, and by Monday crews were prioritizing power restoration and clearing blocked roads and damaged bridges.
- Forecasters expect Lala to continue weakening as it moves west over the open Pacific, but El Niño‑warmed waters raise seasonal cyclone risk and isolated communities may face prolonged recovery times.