Hurricane Lala swept past the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island, delivering heavy rain and strong winds as tens of thousands remained without power. The storm did not make landfall, but its eye passed offshore, triggering dangerous conditions across the island.
Officials warned that Lala is expected to weaken gradually in the wake of its near-miss. Despite the diminished intensity, the rainfall threat remains, with authorities cautioning that flooding and mudslides could develop in affected areas.
Images from the scene show rising water levels near key infrastructure, including scenes along the Wainaku Street Bridge in Hilo. Residents faced outages and the potential for continued hazardous conditions as the system moves away from the region. Officials urged residents to avoid floodwaters and monitor local updates as the situation evolves.