'Enormous storm' Lala approaches Hawaii with torrential rains

Tropical storm-force winds and the outer rainbands of Lala were hitting the Big Island of Hawaii as the storm makes its approach Saturday, ahead of its expected strengthening to hurricane status.

At 5 a.m. Hawaii time, or 11 a.m. ET, Lala was still a tropical storm as it moved toward the Big Island. The National Hurricane Center said Lala will reach the island within about 12 hours, and is likely to be a hurricane when it passes near or over its southern portion.

If it makes landfall as a hurricane, Lala would be the first on record to hit the Big Island and the first hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii in more than three decades.

Flooding due to pouring rain is one of the biggest threats to the state, and Gov. Josh Green warned Friday that residents should stay home and off the roads during flooding conditions.

“This is an enormous storm,” Green said at a news conference. “It’s going to be a ton of rain … which means that there’s going to be flooding, and we have to be very, very careful about that.”

Lala’s rains start drenching Hawaii. Where is the storm now?

11:02 AM ET, August 15 2026, Jeanine Santucci

Tropical Storm Lala was located about 110 miles southeast of South Point, Hawaii, on the Big Island, as of 5 a.m. Hawaii time, or 11 a.m. ET, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It was moving west-northwest at 13 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

Lala’s outer rain bands were starting to spread over the Big Island early Saturday; heavy rainfall is expected to cause flooding throughout the weekend.

Rain, big surf arriving in Hawaii

10:09 AM ET, August 15 2026, Dinah Voyles Pulver

“Wind, rain and surf impacts will be felt statewide,” warned the National Weather Service in Honolulu on Saturday morning. Winds are ramping up across the state already with wind gusts up to 50 mph along ridge tops and wind prone, leeward areas of Oahu, Molokai, Lanai and Maui, the weather service said. Gusts from 40 to 55 mph have been reported on the Big Island in the mountains and at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Rain was falling at rates of 0.5 inches to 1.0 inches per hour over windward areas of the Big Island, and rising water levels were reported in some streams in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A buoy off Hilo reported average wave heights among the highest one-third of waves ranging from 15 to 17 feet.

Surf advisories are in place along the island for dangerously large surf. Along the southeast coast of the Big Island, waves as high as 25 to 30 feet are expected on Saturday afternoon. For Maui, the surf is forecast to reach heights of 14 to 18 feet by Saturday evening.

Will Lala make a historic hurricane landfall?

09:27 AM ET, August 15 2026, Jeanine Santucci

Whether Lala makes a direct hit on land depends on whether it makes a slight shift in its track as it approaches the Big Island on Saturday.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict that it will come within 10 miles of the island, just to the south. Regardless of whether Lala’s eye passes over land, its impacts could be significant, AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

“This is not a storm where people should focus on a line on a map. Flooding rain, damaging wind gusts and dangerous surf can extend well beyond the eye of the storm,” Roys said.

2 feet of rain possible in Hawaii

09:19 AM ET, August 15 2026, Jeanine Santucci

Forecasters said flash flooding is a big risk as Lala brings heavy rainfall to Hawaii.

Across the Big Island, 10 to 20 inches of rainfall is possible, with localized totals up to 25 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Maui could see 8 to 12 inches, while other islands might see 4 to 6 inches, with a maximum of 8 inches.

“This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain,” the hurricane center said.

Forecasters predict Lala could dump 2 feet of rain in some localized areas of the Big Island of Hawaii, with widespread totals up to 8 inches on other islands.

Where is Tropical Storm Lala now?

09:19 AM ET, August 15 2026, Jeanine Santucci

As of 2 a.m. Hawaii time, or 8 a.m. ET, Lala was about 140 miles southeast of South Point, Hawaii, on the Big Island, the southernmost point of the United States.

The storm was moving west-northwest at about 13 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

The core of Lala will pass near or over South Point later Saturday, then south of the smaller Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said.