Hawaii braces for possible first direct hurricane hit in 34 years
Category one storm Lala is approaching Hawaii, threatening flooding and landslides, and could become the islands' first direct hurricane strike since 1992.
Hawaii is preparing for storm Lala, which reached category one hurricane strength with winds of up to 120 km/h. Forecasters warn that in a worst-case scenario, Big Island could see up to 63 cm of rainfall along with a storm surge of roughly a metre.
A hurricane warning is in place for Big Island, while Maui County, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau are under tropical storm warnings. Authorities have urged residents to prepare for life-threatening conditions, including flooding and mudslides.
The storm is expected to either make landfall or pass close to the southern tip of Big Island on Saturday before continuing westward. According to the Associated Press, the last time a hurricane made direct landfall on Big Island was 155 years ago. Over the weekend, Lala may weaken into a tropical storm as its centre passes just south of the other islands.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged residents to prepare for "an incredible amount of water," warning of damaging winds, heavy rain, flash flooding and dangerous surf across the state through the weekend.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled. About 40% of flights were grounded at Big Island's largest airport, while roughly 80% were cancelled at its other main airport. The National Weather Service warned of possible large-scale evacuations and rescues in Big Island's south-east, where rivers could rapidly overflow their banks.
Residents had been repeatedly urged to prepare early, with social media showing people filling sandbags to protect their homes. Hawaii County's Civil Defense Agency said public shelters were available across every district on Big Island.
The last hurricane to strike Hawaii was category four Iniki in 1992, which killed six people and caused $3bn in damage after making landfall on Kauai.
Hurricane activity in the US has been relatively subdued in recent years, with the last major storm being category three Hurricane Milton, which struck Florida in October 2024. Forecasters expect 2026 could again be a below-average season for US hurricanes. Meanwhile, the world's oceans recorded their hottest ever July temperatures, partly driven by developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific.
