Lala lashes Oahu with flash floods, mudslides, and major road closures

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Tropical Storm Lala brought heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous flooding conditions to Oahu Sunday morning.

Read more Flying after Lala? All Hawaii airports reopen, but delays and cancellations possible

Lala weakened overnight from a hurricane to a tropical storm as it passed south of the island chain, but officials warn hazardous conditions remain.

Heavy rain has already prompted flash flood warnings across Oahu with flooding reported in several areas.

Residents are being urged to stay off the roads when possible, avoid flooded areas and stay away from streams and other waterways as conditions continue to change.

Toppled tree crashes onto driver’s windshield in Wahiawa

The city says it responded to over 147 downed trees as of 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

One was caught on video by a woman in Wahiawa. Ladyrose Tria-Valdez was heading into town when a tree crashed onto her windshield.

She was not hurt, but her vehicle was heavily damaged.

Flooding and heavy rain

The National Weather Service warned of life-threatening flash flooding Sunday morning as bands of heavy rain moved across Oahu.

Read more Coast Guard reopens commercial port across Hawaii after Lala passes

Forecasters said Manoa Stream was showing record streamflow and was likely causing considerable impacts.

Streams were rising rapidly in some areas, while flooding could impact roads, highways, underpasses and low-lying communities, forecasters said.

Pali Highway closed for most of Sunday

Pali Highway was closed in both directions from Kamehameha Hwy. to Waokanaka Street in Nuuanu due to downed trees, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The closure alert was issued at around 7:30 a.m.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m., police reopened the townbound lanes of the Pali Highway from Castel Junction to Waokanaka Street.

The department said the Kailua-bound lanes remain closed and drivers should take alternate routes and avoid the area if possible.

Additional traffic alerts and road closures

High winds and heavy rain triggered multiple road closures, and residents were urged to stay off the roads.

Read more Hawaii Island flooding: Town isolated, swept-away resident rescued after Lala

HPD asked the public to avoid these areas if possible.