Tropical Storm Lala has strengthened in the Pacific Ocean and is rapidly becoming a serious threat to Hawaii, with forecasters warning that the storm could make a direct impact on the Big Island within hours.
The storm reached tropical storm strength on Thursday morning and was located less than 700 miles southeast of Hawaii.
Lala was moving westward with sustained winds of around 40 mph as forecasters monitored its increasingly concerning trajectory.
Weather models indicate that the Big Island could be the first part of Hawaii to experience the storm’s effects, potentially as early as Friday.
Hurricane Watch Issued for the Big Island
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for the Big Island as Lala approaches, while warning that conditions could deteriorate quickly.
NHC officials said heavy rainfall would begin affecting the Big Island on Friday before spreading westward across the island chain during the weekend.
The agency warned that the rainfall could result in life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly across areas with steep terrain.
Forecasters are also watching for the possibility that Lala could strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as it moves near or across the Hawaiian islands.
Millions Face Possible Tropical Impacts
Although the Big Island is expected to bear the strongest effects, concerns extend across much of the state.
More than one million residents live throughout Hawaii, while the islands are also experiencing the height of the summer tourism season.
Around 250,000 visitors are estimated to be in Hawaii on an average day between June and mid-August, meaning a significant number of tourists could encounter dangerous weather conditions if the storm follows its projected path.
Maui, Oahu, Molokai and Lanai currently remain outside the hurricane watch area.
However, forecasts indicate that Lala could pass close to these islands, bringing strong winds, torrential rainfall and dangerous surf.
Heavy Rain and Coastal Flooding Threaten Communities
The National Hurricane Center expects winds of close to 30 mph across some of the smaller islands, while prolonged periods of heavy surf could create additional hazards.
Officials have warned that coastal flooding and severe beach erosion could affect the Big Island and other parts of the state as Lala approaches.
AccuWeather forecasters expect four to eight inches of rain across the Big Island and Maui, although significantly higher totals remain possible under a worst-case scenario.
Maui Tourists Could Face Dangerous Conditions
Maui could be particularly vulnerable because of its enormous popularity with visitors.
The island attracted approximately 2.5 million tourists in 2025, with travelers drawn to its beaches, resorts, whale-watching opportunities and famous attractions including the Road to Hāna.
Heavy rainfall and powerful surf could disrupt travel plans and create hazardous conditions in areas already vulnerable to flooding and erosion.
Experts Compare Lala With Hurricane Hone
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva has compared the developing threat to Hurricane Hone, which affected Hawaii in 2024 despite never making landfall.
Hone produced more than two feet of rain in parts of the Big Island and generated winds exceeding 70 mph, causing significant flooding.
The comparison has raised concerns that Lala could produce dangerous conditions even if its center ultimately remains offshore.
Worst-Case Forecast Calls for 85mph Winds
AccuWeather’s most severe scenario currently projects that Lala could dump as much as 24 inches of rain on the Big Island while producing hurricane-force winds reaching 85 mph.
However, meteorologists stress that the storm’s eventual path remains uncertain. Lala could shift farther south and move away from Hawaii, potentially reducing the immediate threat to the islands.
Such a change would not necessarily mean the storm was weakening.
A track farther south could allow Lala to remain over warmer Pacific waters for longer, potentially giving it more opportunity to intensify into a larger hurricane.
Active Pacific Season Raises Further Concerns
Lala’s development comes during a Pacific hurricane season that forecasters have warned could be unusually active.
The emergence of a strong El Niño pattern in June has raised concerns about warmer-than-average Pacific waters providing additional energy for tropical systems.
AccuWeather previously forecast between 17 and 22 named storms during the season, with nine to 13 potentially becoming hurricanes and as many as eight reaching major hurricane strength.
Nine named storms have already formed in the Pacific this year, with Fausto and Genevieve strengthening into hurricanes. Lala would become the season’s third hurricane if it reaches that threshold.
Hawaii Has Already Seen a Close Call This Summer
Hawaii narrowly avoided another significant tropical threat in late July when Hurricane Fausto changed direction northward shortly before it was expected to approach the islands.
The latest threat from Lala has renewed attention on Hawaii’s vulnerability to tropical weather, particularly because the state has gone an extended period without a direct hurricane landfall.
DaSilva has previously cautioned that the absence of recent direct hits should not encourage complacency, warning that increased tropical activity could expose the islands to dangerous flooding and other impacts.
El Niño Could Broaden the Threat
The effects of the active Pacific pattern may extend beyond Hawaii. Meteorologists have also warned that stronger tropical systems could threaten parts of the US West Coast later in the season.
Warmer ocean temperatures can provide storms with additional energy, potentially allowing them to intensify more rapidly, survive longer and track farther north toward Baja California and Southern California.
For Hawaii, however, the immediate focus remains on Lala, as forecasters continue to track its movement and assess whether the storm will strengthen before reaching the islands.
