Hawaii Begins Muddy Cleanup as Tropical Storm Lala Moves West
Tropical Storm Lala exits Hawaii, leaving heavy rain, flooding, and damage, with cleanup underway.
Residents of Hawaii are beginning a messy cleanup after Tropical Storm Lala swept past the islands, leaving behind significant rainfall and flooding. The storm, which weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Sunday, is now moving westward and is expected to regain hurricane strength far out at sea by Wednesday.
While no coastal warnings are currently in effect, officials caution that life-threatening surf and rip currents persist. The National Weather Service also notes that saturated ground could still trigger landslides, though wind threats have subsided. Meteorologist Patrick Blood said there are no immediate hazards, as the storm has moved away.
The heaviest rainfall was recorded in Laupahoehoe on the Big Island's northeast coast, where 43.54 inches fell. Gusts reached 140 mph atop Mauna Kea, while lower elevations experienced winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.
The storm downed trees and power lines and caused severe flooding that swept approximately 100 homes from their foundations on the Big Island. Governor Josh Green stated that no deaths are believed to have occurred in those incidents.