Latest updates from the National Hurricane Center have Lala weakened to a tropical storm status maintaining 70 mph winds, while still bringing severe impacts to the state. Joining live to discuss the downgrade is FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross with exclusive analysis:
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Lala continues moving westward offshore of the Hawaiian Islands as a newly downgraded tropical storm, maintaining rare and dangerous impacts on the state with violent flooding and damaging winds.
The system was briefly upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center on Saturday afternoon before its recent weakening trend.
At least one person was killed in a storm-related car accident, according to an update from Governor Josh Green.
A Flash Flood Emergency unfolded on the Big Island as torrential rain is still slamming the Islands with reports of at least two homes swept away.
Destructive winds have knocked out power to nearly 70% of the Big Island as Tropical Storm Lala's impacts are far from over across the Hawaiian Islands.
Tropical Strom Lala is tracking northwest along the western side of the Big Island, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall that will move toward Oahu and Kauai on Sunday.
In the latest advisory, the NHC said that Lala has sustained winds of 70 mph as it moves through the Pacific Ocean northwest at 15 mph.
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Torrential rain has pushed several area waterways into flood stage.
The Wailuku River, which feeds Rainbow Falls and flows into Hilo, has reached its sixth-highest level on record.
According to the NHC, peak rainfall measurements over the last 12 hours have reached between 15 and 17 inches across windward Maui and the Big Island.
On top of the flooding, mudslides are a major concern as well.
The center of Tropical Storm Lala has passed the Big Island and will begin to turn west, moving away from Hawaii on Sunday.
"It will take some time, however, and the worst impacts are still to come across Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Lanai, and Kauaʻi," the FOX Forecast Center said.
