(BIVN) – In a 11 a.m. update, Tropical Storm Lala was reported to be slightly stronger, located 655 miles east southeast of Hilo as it tracks towards Hawaiʻi.
The latest forecast track has Lala near or just south of Hawaiʻi Island on Saturday as a hurricane. A Hurricane Watch is in currently in effect for Hawaiʻi County.
“Lala is likely to continue to strengthen while it approaches the Big Island as the storm is expected to remain in generally conducive environmental conditions,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center stated in a 11 a.m. discussion. The National Hurricane Center intensity forecast “now shows Lala reaching category one hurricane status when it is near the Big Island, trending toward the latest HCCA and Google DeepMind solutions.”
Hurricane conditions are possible in the Big Island of Hawaii by early Saturday, forecasters say. “Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.
Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across Maui and the Big Island with maximum totals of 25 inches possible across the Big Island.
Warning level surf of 15 feet or larger will be possible along east and south-facing shores into the weekend.
On Thursday, the Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply advised water customers and the public to prepare for outages, and that a disruption of the electrical power grid due to severe weather can cause interruptions to water service.
The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense issued a radio alert, advising:
- Now is the time to prepare your property for possible damaging winds, flooding rains, and high surf.
- Take this time to secure outdoor items, address flood prone conditions, and other issues that could cause wind and flood damage.
- Check your emergency kit to make sure you have adequate food, water, fuel, and a flashlight with working batteries.
- A High Surf Advisory is currently in effect for south facing shores of Hawaii Island, but maybe expanded to include east facing shores.
- Boat owners and those with shoreline property should prepare for possible high surf.
