Tropical storm Lala threatens Hawaii with potential hurricane landfall

Tropical Storm Lala became a Category 1 hurricane near Hawaii on Saturday, threatening the Big Island with a direct hit. The storm had winds of 75 mph when it reached hurricane strength. Officials issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island and tropical storm warnings for several other islands, including Maui and Oahu. Forecasters warned that up to 25 inches of rain could fall, and a storm surge of around three feet was possible. Residents were told to prepare for dangerous flooding and mudslides. The last hurricane to hit the Big Island directly was in 1992, more than 30 years ago. The 2026 Pacific hurricane season has been unusually active because of strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean.