(BIVN) – Hawaiʻi island is preparing for the arrival of a hurricane, as Tropical Storm Lala makes its approach.
As of 5 a.m. on Friday morning, Lala was 420 miles east southeast of Hilo, moving west northwest at 12 mph. “This general motion is expected to continue, taking the core of Lala near the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday and then south of the smaller islands on Sunday,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center says.
Tropical Storm Lala has remained in relatively steady state overnight, with maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island.
“When Lala is near the Big Island, short-term deviations in the track are also likely due to local terrain interactions, as depicted in many of the models,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the island of Hawaiʻi. The Big Island is expecting to see damaging tropical force winds starting as early as tonight, around the same time periods of heavy rainfall begin. “Orographic enhancement will result in locally higher rainfall totals where moist tropical flow interacts with island terrain,” the National Weather Service stated. “If heavier rainfall persists over the same locations, flash flooding and rapidly rising streams are possible.” A Flood Watch has been issued.
Lala is also expected to generate a large easterly swell that will produce damaging surf, significant beach erosion, and overwash across vulnerable coastal infrastructure this weekend. A High Surf Warning has been issued for east-facing shores, with wave heights increasing from 8 to 12 feet tonight to 15 to 20 feet on Saturday.
The current port heavy weather condition for commercial ports in Hawaiʻi County is Yankee, set by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Honolulu. That will change to Zulu at 8 a.m. Friday.
At port condition Zulu:
- The port is closed.
- All pleasure craft shall seek sheltered waters.
- No terminal, facility, or vessel operations are permitted within the port unless specifically approved by the COTP.
- All vessels remaining in port will continue to monitor their vessel and will appropriately and safely attend to their vessels, to preserve the vessel and the facilities of the port.
The County will be opening shelters as of 6 p.m. Friday, August 14 at the locations below. Bring your own food, water, and any necessary medicine.
- Ikuo Hisaoka Gymnasium, 54-382 Kamehameha Park Road, Kapaʻau.
- Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria, 68-1730 Hoʻoko St., Waikoloa.
- Kahilu Town Hall, 67-1182 Lindsey Road, Waimea (CORRECTED LOCATION)
- Honokaʻa Gym, 45-541 Lehua St., Honokaʻa.
- Laupāhoehoe Public Charter School Band Room, 35-2605 Mamalahoa Highway, Laupāhoehoe.
- Waiākea High School Gym, 155 W. Kawili St., Hilo
- Keaʻau Armory, 16-512 Volcano Road, Keaʻau.
- Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, 15-2910 Kauhale St., Pāhoa.
- Robert N. Herkes Gym, 96-1219 Kamani St., Pāhala.
- Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, 95-5545 Mamalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu.
- Kealakehe High School Gym, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., Kailua-Kona.
- Yano Hall, 82-6156 Māmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook..
The Hawaiʻi County Department of Public Works is distributing sandbags, which can be requested by contacting the department at dpwhwy@hawaiicounty.gov or 808-961-8349. For after-hours requests, contact Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.
More closure information is provided here.
From the Central Pacific Hurricane Center discussion posted at 5 a.m. HST:
Lala has remained relatively steady state overnight. The storm continues to be asymmetric, with most of the deep convection and tropical-storm-force winds on its north side. Earlier data from an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the minimum pressure has been generally unchanged around 997 mb and the maximum winds still near 50 kt. The aircraft data and an OSCAT pass from around 09Z indicate that the wind field has contracted, which could be a sign that circulation is becoming more compact and might lead to strengthening soon.
Lala is moving west-northwestward at 10 kt, and this general motion is expected to persist during the next few days as a mid-level high pressure system remains anchored north of the Hawaiian Islands. This motion should take the core of Lala very near or over the Big Island on Saturday. When Lala is near the Big Island, short-term deviations in the track are also likely due to local terrain interactions, as depicted in many of the models. After Lala passes the Big Island, a continued west-northwestward track south of the remainder of the islands is expected Saturday night and Sunday. The NHC track forecast is mostly unchanged from the previous one, and is based on a blend of the latest Google DeepMind, HCCA, and TVCA aids, which have been performing quite well for this storm.
Steady strengthening is expected during the next day or so since the storm appears to be consolidating while environmental conditions remain generally favorable. Lala is still forecast to become a category 1 hurricane when it reaches the Big Island. Land interaction and an increase in wind shear should result in Lala weakening back to a tropical storm as it moves south of the remainder of the island chain later in the weekend. Re-strengthening is forecast early next week as vertical wind shear relaxes and Lala remains over warm sea surface temperatures. The latest NHC intensity forecast is similar to the previous advisory and remains near the upper end of the guidance envelope.
Key Messages:
1. Lala is forecast to strengthen and become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Big Island and a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Maui County. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for Oahu and Kauai Counties. Winds are expected to be the strongest in areas of higher terrain.
2. Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lala will begin to impact the Big Island today, spreading westward across the remainder of the island chain during the weekend. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.
3. Large and dangerous waves, especially on the Big Island, are expected this weekend, with the greatest impacts along exposed windward and southern shores. This prolonged period of heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.
