Tropical Storm Lala is bearing down on Hawaii's Big Island and is forecast to intensify into a hurricane within hours, threatening dangerous winds, torrential rain and dangerously high surf. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has declared a state of emergency, and forecasters warn the island faces a serious risk of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides as the storm makes landfall on Saturday.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest advisory, Lala was located roughly 420 miles (675km) southeast of Hilo, carrying sustained winds of 60mph (97km/h). The agency's storm-tracking page placed the system's center near 16.7°N, 148.9°W at 11:00pm local time on Thursday, with a minimum central pressure of 997 millibars, according to NOAA's satellite storm-tracking page. The National Hurricane Center's newest forecast discussion indicates the storm was moving west-northwest at 10 knots and remains on course to reach Category 1 hurricane strength as it nears the Big Island on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Which areas are under warnings?
Hurricane warnings now cover Hawaii county, encompassing the Big Island, while tropical storm warnings extend to Maui, Molokai and Kahoolawe to the northwest. Forecasters expect rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the Big Island, with isolated pockets receiving as much as 25 inches, alongside a storm surge of 1 to 3 feet as the system comes ashore on Saturday.
By Friday, additional watches and warnings had been extended further across the chain: tropical storm conditions were expected for Kauai, Niihau and Oahu from Saturday evening through Sunday night, while Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Maui and Hawaii Island faced warnings from Friday through Saturday night.
What is the flooding risk?
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has cautioned that the islands face life-threatening flash floods and mudslides as the storm closes in. The National Hurricane Center's latest discussion notes that heavy rainfall has already begun over the Big Island and is expected to spread westward across the archipelago through the weekend, raising the risk of dangerous flooding and landslides, according to the agency's forecast discussion. Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency has said the most intense impacts for Hawaii Island are expected between Friday night and Saturday morning, bringing tropical-force winds, heavy rain, storm surge and rough surf, according to the agency's August 2026 update.
What has the governor said?
Governor Green formally proclaimed a state of emergency, stressing the seriousness of the threat facing the islands, particularly the Big Island.
"Tropical Storm Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly Hawaii Island – and we are taking action now to ensure resources are available where they are needed."
"Our state and county emergency teams are coordinating closely with federal partners. I urge everyone to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review their family emergency plans and follow updates from trusted official sources. Please take this storm seriously and look out for one another."
Residents have been urged to clear gutters and drains, move valuables away from ground level, seal gaps around doors and cut back tree limbs that could damage property. Hawaii's emergency management agency issued a direct warning about coastal dangers.
"Stay away from beaches and coastal areas where rough surf and rip currents could sweep you away."
How does this compare with past storms?
The last major hurricane to strike Hawaii was Iniki in 1992, which killed at least six people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Should Lala's center track directly over the Big Island, it would mark the first direct hit by a tropical cyclone there since Tropical Storm Darby in 2016. Two years before that, the more powerful Tropical Storm Iselle caused extensive wind damage and widespread power outages across the island.
The Big Island has also recently contended with volcanic activity, following Kilauea's eruption in April 2026, when lava fountains reached 200 meters and prompted the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. That history of volcanic unrest gave particular resonance to a visitor's remark on the park's social media page.
"It's gonna be weird to see a giant hurricane be on top of that volcano erupting! Stay safe, everybody."
Officials at the national park closed access to the summit of Mauna Loa, Earth's largest active volcano, on Thursday afternoon, with plans also in place to shut the welcome center, all trails and the Nahuku lava tube ahead of the storm.
What is Hawaii County's mayor telling residents?
Mayor Kimo Alameda has urged residents to prepare for damaging winds, flooding rain, high surf, power outages, disrupted communications and road closures.
"This is a quickly evolving situation and we urge our residents to act now to prepare for the storm by checking your emergency supplies, securing your property and contacting neighbors who may need assistance."
"Readiness requires all of us, and with a storm this close, a slight change in its track can greatly enhance rain and wind hazards across the island. We encourage everyone to stay safe, stay connected, and be prepared to hunker down and stay home during severe weather."
Is this linked to a wider weather pattern?
Lala's arrival coincides with the emergence of a powerful El Niño in the central equatorial Pacific, where sea surface temperatures are already high enough that NOAA has put the odds at 69% for a historic event that could exceed every El Niño on record dating back to 1950 when it peaks between October and December. El Niño, a natural warming pattern in the central and eastern Pacific, tends to fuel hurricane activity in that ocean while dampening it in the Atlantic.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Hernan formed on Thursday but posed no threat to land and was weakening as it moved south, located about 1,505 miles (2,420km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula with maximum sustained winds near 40mph (65km/h). In the Atlantic, former Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened into a post-tropical remnant on Thursday, sitting roughly 500 miles (805km) west of the Azores and posing no danger to land.
What happens next?
The National Hurricane Center scheduled a live briefing with Director Michael Brennan for 7:00am Hawaii time (1:00pm Eastern) on Friday, August 14, 2026, to provide the latest guidance on the storm's track and intensity, according to the National Weather Service. On the Big Island, emergency shelters were set to open starting at 6pm on Friday, August 14, 2026, ahead of the storm's expected approach, according to Big Island Now.
Key Facts
- Tropical Storm Lala had sustained winds of 60mph and was about 420 miles southeast of Hilo as of the latest NOAA advisory.
- Hurricane warnings cover Hawaii County; tropical storm warnings extend to Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Niihau and Oahu.
- Forecast rainfall totals range from 8-12 inches, with up to 25 inches possible in some areas, plus a 1-3 foot storm surge.
- Governor Josh Green has declared a state of emergency for the islands.
- Emergency shelters on the Big Island were scheduled to open at 6pm on August 14, 2026.
