Hawaii braces for direct hit from Tropical Storm Lala

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Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to hit Hawaii’s Big Island with hurricane strength, prompting a state of emergency to prepare for dangerous winds, heavy rainfall, and life-threatening floods. The storm's intensification is linked with the strengthening El Niño in the Pacific.

Storm expected to strengthen to hurricane as state of emergency declared amid danger of ‘life-threatening’ floods Tropical Storm Lala is set to hit Hawaii’s Big Island with hurricane force in a matter of hours, bringing dangerous winds, heavy rainfall and high surf in a sign of what a strengthening “super” El Niño in the Pacific may bring. The tropical storm is currently about 420 miles (675km) south-east of Hilo on the archipelago’s largest island, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said in its latest advisory, packing winds of 60mph (97km/h). Lala is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island. Continue reading...