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Tropical Storm Lala could reach hurricane force this Saturday on the Big Island of Hawaii, bringing dangerous winds, rain, and strong swells, a prospect that led the governor to declare a state of emergency.
The tropical cyclone was about 680 kilometers southeast of Hilo, on the archipelago's largest island, with sustained winds of just under 100 km per hour, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported in its latest bulletin.
Which Hawaii islands will Lala affect? These are the areas under alert due to the storm
A hurricane watch was in effect for Hawaii County—which encompasses the Big Island—and a tropical storm watch for the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Kahoolawe, located to the northwest.
Likewise, tropical storm alerts were issued for other islands.
According to forecasts, rainfall of between 203 and 304 millimeters could be recorded on Maui and the Big Island, along with a storm surge. Adverse conditions could persist until Sunday.
Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency on Thursday to ensure that the state and its counties "have sufficient resources to remove debris, secure infrastructure, and take other preparatory measures."
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency recommended that residents clean gutters and drains, raise valuables off the floor, seal door gaps, and remove tree branches that could threaten their properties.
Hawaii was threatened last month by Hurricane Fausto, which ultimately weakened and passed by grazing the northern part of the archipelago.
The last time the 50th U.S. state was struck by a "major" hurricane—category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale—was in 1992, when Iniki caused six deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
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