Saturday: Kauaʻi, Niʻihau remain under tropical storm watch as Lala now 140 miles from Big island
The storm, which forecasters still expect to become a Category 1 hurricane likely by this afternoon, still had sustained winds of 65 mph, moving west-northwest at about 13 mph; some locations on Big Island began feeling Lala's impacts by late Friday night.
9 hours ago
Kauaʻi and Niʻihau remain under a tropical storm watch as Tropical Storm Lala moves within 140 miles east-southeast from South Point on the Big Island as of the 2 a.m. Saturday advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
While the storm’s sustained winds remain steady at 65 mph, Lala is still expected to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane by Saturday afternoon, National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Bravender, who works at the Honolulu forecast office, said during an early evening Friday press briefing at the state Capitol.
The storm is moving west-northwest at 13 mph, and expected to move south of Kauaʻi on Sunday.
Flood watches also are in effect until late Sunday night for Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i. Rainfall of 4 to 6 inches and maximum amounts of 8 inches is forecast for the islands.
Don’t focus on Lala’s exact forecast track or intensity now, though. National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu said be flexible — and prepared for changes.
Green said the hope is Lala will be sufficiently far enough south of the islands that they just get the periphery.
But he said: “We’ve seen storms turn.” Green reminded people about what happened in 1992 with Hurricane Iniki, which followed a southern path around the island chain but then turned back to the north-northeast and slammed into Kaua‘i as a Category 4 storm.
Iniki had winds well stronger than 100 mph, caused $3 billion in damage, destroyed thousands of homes and killed 6 people.
“We just can never know if a storm is going to turn,” Green said. “That’s why we’re trying to be very cautious. The rains and winds will be enough to cause some damage, certainly on Big Island, but if you get a turn of a hurricane like this, it’s even more severe.”
Rain will start falling by mid-morning over the Big Island, becoming heavier and heavier as the storm continues its trek. The island is expected to get up to 20 inches of rain in some locations, as much as 25 in localized areas, on the windward side.
Impacts already were being felt by late Friday night in some places on the Big Island. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from Lala’s center up to 220 miles.
Portions of East Hawai‘i inside the northern portion of the storm’s wind field late Friday already were feeling a breezy prequel for the main event still yet to come.
“One thing to note about this tropical storm is that the wind field is large, especially on the northern side,” Bravender said. “Even though the track shows it passing south of the islands, the tropical storm force winds, which can be damaging, will extend north and could impact all the islands.”
Among other hazardous impacts is dangerously large surf increasing from 8 to 12 feet overnight Friday to 15 to 20 feet Saturday along east-facing shores of the Big Island and from 7 to 10 feet to 15 to 20 feet for the same shorelines of Maui, accompanied by powerful currents that will make any ocean recreation life-threatening in waters along the warned coasts.
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green urged residents to hunker down and just stay put once the strongest version of Lala arrives, first on the Big Island and then throughout the rest of the islands. That will be the best option and the most help everyone can offer to the officials and crews who are looking out for everyone.
Visit the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website to find storm information specific to your area, such as possible inland advisories, watches and warnings along with being able to monitor your local forecast.
