Hurricane Lala Impacts Hawaii

• In mid-August 2026, Hurricane Lala passed just south of the Island of Hawaiʻi as a category 1 storm, causing significant infrastructure damage and severe flooding.
• Rainfall exceeded 20 inches (50 cm) in many areas, with a peak of 43.55 inches (110.6 cm) recorded at Laupāhoehoe.
• State-wide, over 220,000 customers lost power as of August 16, 2026.

Impact and Damage

• The storm downed trees, destroyed bridges, and swept homes off their foundations.
• Coastal regions faced large, destructive waves.
• High-altitude conditions included blizzard weather on the summit of Mauna Kea.
• Debris and floodwaters made major roads impassable throughout the island chain.

Meteorological Context

• As the storm tracked northwest, it weakened from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, with sustained winds reaching 65 mph (105 km/h) by August 16.
• The 2026 Eastern Pacific season has been active due to El Niño conditions, characterized by warmer equatorial waters and reduced wind shear.
• Conversely, the Atlantic hurricane season has remained relatively calm due to higher wind shear which suppresses storm development.