Hurricane Lala nears Hawaii's Big Island with 75 mph winds
Why it matters: Forecasters warned of up to 25 inches of rain, life-threatening flooding and mudslides, and widening power outages.
Hurricane Lala strengthened to a Category 1 storm Saturday as it closed in on Hawaii's Big Island, where forecasters warned it could make a rare direct hit. The National Hurricane Center said the storm's maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph, with the eyewall expected to pass over or near the island's southern end by evening. A hurricane warning remained in effect for Hawaii County, while tropical storm warnings covered Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. Officials opened shelters and canceled events as heavy rain and strong winds hit parts of the island chain. Forecasters warned the Big Island's higher elevations could get as much as 25 inches of rain, raising the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. About 10% of Big Island electricity customers were without power.