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Hurricane Lala's Impact on Hawaii

A series of escalating developments involving Hurricane Lala affecting Hawaii, including its forecast, landfall, damage assessment, and subsequent strengthening over the Central Pacific.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center warns depression could become tropical storm

Central Pacific Hurricane Center warns depression could become tropical storm
  • The Central Pacific Hurricane Center warned a depression moving west and northwest could become a tropical storm by Thursday and pass near or south of Hawaii's Big Island over the weekend.
  • Forecasters said the developing system could bring up to 15 inches of rain to the Big Island and produce life-threatening flooding, mudslides and rip currents.
  • Nearly 15,000 homes and businesses across Hawaii remained without electricity on Thursday as crews continued Hurricane Lala cleanup.
  • Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and other state officials planned a Thursday afternoon news conference to address both the developing cyclone and the continuing recovery from Lala.
  • Hurricane Lala has been blamed for two deaths in the state.
 2026-08-20 · 3 MIN READ

Hurricane Lala strengthens to Category 3 over Central Pacific

Illustration accompanying article: Hurricane Lala strengthens to Category 3 over Central Pacific
  • The National Hurricane Center reported Hurricane Lala strengthened to a Category 3 storm late Tuesday as it moved west-northwest away from Hawaii.
  • The storm was located about 335 miles south-southeast of Maro Reef, moving west-northwest at 125 mph.
  • The hurricane center identified Lala as the first major hurricane of 2026 in the Central Pacific basin.
  • A hurricane warning was issued for the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with hurricane conditions expected within roughly 36 hours.
  • Lala had battered parts of Hawaii on Sunday without making landfall, weakening from a hurricane to a tropical storm before crews began cleanup and power restoration.
 2026-08-19 · 3 MIN READ