Lala Saturday Updates: Lala now a category 1 hurricane, Big Island bracing for impacts

Update: 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
Lala is slowing down and turning NW as it begins to interact with the Big Island
Winds will continue to increase through this afternoon.

At 11 a.m. HST, the center of Hurricane Lala was located about 65 miles SSE of South Point, and 275 miles SE of Honolulu, near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 155.2 West. Lala is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph.

Some erratic motion is likely later today and tonight while Lala interacts with the Big Island of Hawaii. After passing the Big Island, Lala is expected to turn westward on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, with the core of the storm staying south of remainder of the main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through the early part of next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts.

Some slight strengthening is possible during the next few hours, but significant weakening is likely tonight after Lala interacts with the Big Island of Hawaii. Some restrengthening is possible early next week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 988 mb (29.18 inches).

WIND: Tropical storm conditions, including gusts to hurricane force, are occurring on the Big Island of Hawaii, especially in areas of higher terrain. Winds will continue to increase on the Big Island during the next few hours. Tropical storm conditions are spreading westward across portions of Maui County and Kauaʻi, and are expected to reach Kauai County on Sunday. Wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.

RAINFALL: Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches across the Big Island, with maximum totals of 25 inches possible. Rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is expected across eastern Maui, with totals of 4 to 6 inches, and maximum amounts of 8 inches, across western Maui and the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

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… Hawaiʻi…1 to 3 ft 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.

SURF: Swells generated by Lala will continue to build through the weekend. Swells will also build along exposed southern shores as Lala passes south of the islands. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

• A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Hawaiʻi County. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, this case within the next 12 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should now be complete.
• A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahoʻolawe; Oʻahu and Kauai County, including the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
• Interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should monitor the progress of Lala.

The next intermediate advisory is expected at around 2 p.m., and the next complete advisory will be released at 5 p.m.

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Update: 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
Lala is officially a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
Heavy rain, flooding, strong winds expected across the state this weekend.

As of 10 a.m., Lala was officially upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph sustained winds. Present moment is toward the WNW, slowing to 9 mph in the latest forecast.

If Lala makes landfall in Hawai’i as a hurricane, it would be the first since Iniki in 1992. The forecast brings Lala very near or over the Big Island today. Historical data shows the Big Island got hit by a Category 3 system in 1871.

At 8 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Lala was located about 90 miles SSE of South Point, Hawai’i and 300 miles SE of Honolulu, near latitude 17.9 North, longitude 155.0 West. Lala is moving toward the west near 12 mph.

Some erratic motion is likely later today and tonight while Lala interacts with the Big Island of Hawaii. After passing the Big Island, Lala is expected to turn westward on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, with the core of the storm staying south of remainder of the main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through the early part of next week.

Some additional strengthening is possible today, and Lala is expected to be near or at hurricane intensity while it is near the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Weakening is expected tonight and on Sunday, but some restrengthening is forecast by late Monday and Tuesday.

Radar and satellite data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center.

A sustained wind of 41 mph and a gust of 64 mph was recently reported at an observation site near South Point around 550 feet elevation. A sustained wind of 46 mph and a gust to 69 mph were recently reported at Puʻuloa on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi at an elevation of 3,366 ft. A wind gust to 40 mph was recently reported at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.23 inches).

The latest forecast discussion includes the following information:

“Tropical Storm Lala is expected strengthen to a hurricane and bring damaging winds, heavy flooding rainfall, and dangerously high surf to portions of the state this weekend. Impacts will continue to increase on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and Maui County throughout the day today. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi can expect impacts to begin increasing this afternoon into the evening. Lala is expected to pass or make landfall over the southern end of the Big Island of Hawai;i this afternoon and pass just south of the rest of the island chain through Sunday. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall is expected across the entire state this weekend, with the Big Island of Hawaiʻi likely seeing the greatest impacts.”

9:21 a.m., 8.15.26
Maui Flood Advisory until 12:45 p.m.

At 9:19 a.m., Doppler radar indicated moderate to locally heavy rain over East Maui and the slopes of Haleakalā. In addition, stream gauges are elevated. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Rain was falling at a rate of 0.5 to 1.5 inches per hour. Some locations that will experience flooding include: Nāhiku, Keʻanae, Kīpahulu, Kaupō, Hāna, Huelo, Makawao, Haʻikū-Paʻuwela, Hāliʻimaile and Paʻuwela.

Quick links:

• Lala Saturday Weather updates
• Evacuation Points/Shelters
• Road closures
• Canceled/Postponed/Modified
• State Parks/Camping/Trails
• State recap: schools, health, dams, national guard

Update: 5 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
Outer trainbands from Lala spreading over Big Island
Heavy rain, flooding, strong winds expected across Hawaiʻi this weekend.

At 5 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Lala was located about 110 miles SE of South Point, Hawaiʻi and 325 miles SE of Honolulu, near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 154.6 West. Lala is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. Some erratic motion is likely later today and tonight while Lala interacts with the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

After passing the Big Island, Lala is expected to turn westward on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, with the core of the storm staying south of remainder of the main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through the early part of next week.

Some strengthening is possible today, and Lala could be near or at hurricane intensity while it is near the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Weakening is expected tonight and on Sunday, but some restrengthening is forecast by late Monday and Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. Strong tropical-storm-force wind gusts are occurring on the Hawaiian Islands from the Big Island to Oʻahu. The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.27 inches).

• A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Hawaiʻi County. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, this case within the next 12 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should now be complete.
• A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for: Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahoʻolawe; Oʻahu; Kauaʻi County, including the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
  A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
• Interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should monitor the progress of Lala.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are beginning on the Big Island of Hawaii, with hurricane conditions expected later today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Maui County later today and tonight, on Oʻahu tonight and Sunday, and in Kauaʻi County on Sunday. Wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.

RAINFALL: Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches across the Big Island, with maximum totals of 25 inches possible. Rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is expected across eastern Maui, with totals of 4 to 6 inches, and maximum amounts of 8 inches, across western Maui and the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

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… Hawaii…1 to 3 ft 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.

SURF: Swells generated by Lala are steadily building along east-facing shores and will continue to increase through the weekend. Swells will also build along exposed southern shores as Lala passes south of the islands. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

The next intermediate advisory is at around 8 a.m. HST, and the next complete advisory will be released at 11 a.m. HST.

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Update: 12 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
Lala forecast to bring hurricane conditions to Big Island on Saturday
Heavy rain expected across Hawaiian Islands this weekend

Tropical Storm Lala will move over or just south of the islands this weekend but wind, rain and surf impacts will be felt statewide. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Big Island and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the rest of the state.

At 11 p.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Lala was located about 165 miles ESE of South Point, Hawaiʻi, near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 153.5 West. Lala is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days, taking the core of Lala near the South Point of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi on Saturday and then south of the smaller islands on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island Saturday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 miles from the center. The minimum central pressure based on data from an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft is 991 mb (29.27 inches).

• A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Hawaiʻi County. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-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 Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahoʻolawe; Oʻahu and Kauaʻi County, including the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
• Interests in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument should monitor the progress of Lala.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi on Saturday, with tropical storm conditions expected in Maui County Saturday night. Tropical storm conditions are expected on Oahu and Kauai County by Sunday morning. Wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.

RAINFALL: Tropical Storm Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches across the Big Island, with locally higher amounts up to 25 inches possible. Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches are expected across Maui, with 4 to 6 inches and maximum amounts of 8 inches expected across the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

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… Hawaiʻi…1 to 3 ft 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.

SURF: Swells generated by Lala are steadily building along east-facing shores and will continue to increase through the weekend. Swells will also build along exposed southern shores as Lala passes south of the islands. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

The next intermediate advisory is at around 2 a.m. HST. The next complete advisory will be issued at around 5 a.m. HST.

Gov. Josh Green and officials with the National Weather Service provided key updates during a press conference on Friday evening. The full video is available HERE.