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Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii’s Big Island with powerful winds and torrential rain on Saturday, knocking out power to more than 42,000 customers and triggering warnings of potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
As of 2:14pm local time, about 42,889 customers across Hawaii were without electricity, including nearly 32,000 on the Big Island and more than 7,200 in Maui County, according to utility data.
Lala strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of about 75 mph (120 km/h) as it approached Hawaii. Although the storm skirted the southern part of the Big Island without making a direct landfall, its strong winds and heavy rain continued to affect the state.
The National Hurricane Center forecast 10 to 20 inches of rainfall across parts of the Big Island, with isolated totals of up to 25 inches. Heavy rain was also expected in Maui, increasing the risk of flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas.
The hurricane disrupted transportation and damaged infrastructure across the islands. Airports in Hilo and Kona were closed, while commercial ports on several islands were affected.
Hawaiian Electric warned that power outages could continue as fallen trees damaged transmission lines along the Hamakua Coast.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, enabling authorities to mobilise resources and protect critical infrastructure.
Officials urged residents to remain indoors, avoid flooded areas and prepare for potentially prolonged power outages and hazardous conditions.
Lala was forecast to weaken as it moved westward, but authorities warned that strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and mudslides could continue to pose risks across Hawaii through Sunday.