Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lala as storm strengthens
Hawaii is preparing for severe weather as Hurricane Lala churns offshore, bringing heavy rain, power cuts, and the threat of the islands' first direct hit in decades.
Hawaii is preparing for severe weather as Storm Lala intensified into a Category 1 hurricane off the archipelago's coast. The storm is generating sustained winds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) and poses the threat of the state's first direct hurricane landfall since 1992.
Officials issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island, where outer bands have already triggered heavy downpours, localized flooding, road closures, and electrical outages. Meteorologists warn that the system could produce up to 63 centimetres (25 inches) of rainfall and a storm surge reaching approximately one metre in the most severe scenarios. Other parts of the island chain remain on alert as the storm approaches.
Sources: BBC News, ORF.