Tropical Storm Lala forecast to bring hurricane conditions to Hawaii Island Saturday
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Tropical Storm Lala is slowly becoming better organized, with conditions expected to deteriorate over Hawaii Island beginning early Saturday.
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The overall forecast track remains largely unchanged. Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii Island on Saturday morning.
Graphics courtesy National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service.
Watches and Warnings
Hawaii Island is under a Hurricane Warning. This means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of hurricane-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Flood Watch has also been issued for:
A High Surf Warning is in effect through 6 a.m. Sunday for east-facing shores of Hawaii Island, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu.
Forecast track and timing
As of 8 p.m. Friday, Tropical Storm Lala’s center was located about 200 miles from the south point of Hawaii, or 405 miles from Honolulu. Lala is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 miles per hour.
This general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days, taking the core of Lala near the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday and then south of the smaller islands on Sunday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 miles (350 km) from the center.
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Storm impacts
Your HNN First Alert Weather Team has declared Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday as First Alert Weather Days.
Wind
Hurricane conditions are expected on the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday, with tropical storm conditions expected in Maui County Saturday night. Tropical storm conditions are possible in Oahu and Kauai Counties by Sunday morning. Wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.
Rain
Tropical Storm Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the Big Island, with maximum totals of 25 inches possible across the Big Island. Rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches with maximum amounts of 8 inches are expected across the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.
![[Image of U.S. rainfall potential]](https://hawaiimovinginsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/65ef2d0b26aa46341797ba21dbd8767e-1024x791.gif)
Storm surge
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide, at around 1 to 3 feet.
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
![[Image of cumulative wind history]](https://hawaiimovinginsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/21a772dbab2d29b271ee5be9964b0205-768x630.png)
Surf
Swells generated by Lala are expected to reach the east-facing shores of the state today, spreading westward and building through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
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