Hawaii has announced a State of Emergency as Tropical Storm Lala approaches, with forecasts indicating that it may develop into a Category 1 hurricane, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to the islands.
Rainfall amounts of 5-8 inches are projected for the majority of the islands through Sunday, according to the FOX Forecast Center. In the higher elevations and on the windward, or eastern, sides of the Big Island and Maui, rainfall totals may reach between 12 and 18 inches. However, the most significant danger posed by this system will be the intense rainfall and the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. The emergence of Lala is indicative of a larger trend of heightened tropical activity in the Pacific Basin, partly attributed to the rapidly intensifying El Niño climate pattern. During El Niño, elevated water temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean modify global atmospheric circulation.
The Big Island is anticipated to start experiencing rainfall from Lala by midday on Friday, with the intensity of the downpours expected to increase throughout the day, as per NY Post.
