Lala Saturday Updates: Lala to bring hurricane conditions to Big Island, heavy rain in Hawaiʻi forecast

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.