Hurricane Lala is slamming Hawaii with bands of heavy rain, high winds and pounding waves as it made its closest approach to the Big Island late Saturday evening, and will now spread its impacts westward through Maui toward Honolulu and Kauai.

As of Saturday evening, 5 pm HST, Lala's eyewall was brushing the south side of the Big Island. It does not appear Lala will make an official landfall on Hawaii, yet major impacts will still be felt.

Where Lala is now

The center of Hurricane Lala is about 130 miles southeast of Honolulu and is moving toward the west-northwest.

Lala has become only the fifth hurricane since 1957 to pass within 70 miles of the Big Island, according to NOAA's historical database, joining 2024's Hone, 2020's Douglas, 2014's Iselle and 1957's Kanoa.

(MORE: Hawaii hurricanes aren't as unusual as they sound)

Storm reports

Lala's center path just to the south of Hawaii puts the island chain directly in Lala's "dirty side", which is the area in a storm that often packs the worst wind and storm surge as the wind blows directly toward land.

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Wind gusts from 50 to 90 mph have been measured over the mountainous terrain of the Big Island, Maui County and now into Oahu. Instruments atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii's tallest mountain, measured a 154 mph wind gusts early Saturday afternoon. These high-end gusts are common atop the 13,803-foot peak.

These strong winds have downed trees and power lines, blocking roads on parts of the Big Island.

Flooding has closed some roads in the city of Hilo and to the south near Mountain View and Hawaiian Paradise.

Parts of the eastern Big Island and eastern Maui have already picked up 3 to 8 inches of rain. Some mountain slope rain gauges have already measured 10 to 18 inches of rain from Lala, so far.

Lala even brought snow to the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island.

Current wind alerts

A hurricane warning is in effect for the Big Island, where hurricane force winds are expected through Saturday night.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, and for Oahu and Kauai County. Winds potentially gusting over 70 mph are not out of the question through Sunday.

Here is the latest forecast

Lala may take a bit of a northwest jog before curling toward the west-northwest Sunday.

Lala is expected to begin weakening as it interacts with the terrain of the Big Island.

It will then depart west of the islands by Monday, and then could spend significant time over the central and western Pacific as either a hurricane or typhoon for over a week, far from land.

(MORE: What these tropical terms all mean)

Here are the weekend impacts

Flooding rain

Bands of heavy rain will continue to spread westward across the rest of the island chain through Sunday.

According to the NHC, 8 to 12 inches of rain is expected over Maui and the Big Island, with peak totals up to 25 inches on the Big Island through Sunday. Lower rainfall totals are likely throughout the rest of the state of Hawaii.

This could lead to life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, particularly in hilly and mountainous terrain.

Those who live in hilly or mountainous terrain susceptible to flash flooding and landslides should be prepared in case evacuations are needed. You don't need a hurricane to trigger significant flash flooding, as was the case this past March.

Winds

Strong wind gusts capable of tree damage and power outages are possible over much of the island chain this weekend.

That's particularly the case over higher terrain. Also, the threat of downed trees is higher because the heavy rainfall may loosen the soil, making it easier for winds to topple trees.

If you're in Hawaii this weekend, you should plan for power outages that could last hours or a few days and be alert of the danger of falling trees.

Coastal flooding, storm surge

With Lala's closest pass, some coastal/storm surge flooding is expected, especially along east- or south-facing shores. Should peak surge occur at high tide, water could reach 1-3 feet above ground for the Big Island and 1-2 feet above ground for the rest of the state.

Extremely rough surf is expected between the islands and around the Big Island through the weekend.

Lala may not be the last storm to flirt with Hawaii this season.

This strengthening El Niño and warmer-than-average ocean water both usually spell a more active central Pacific hurricane season.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

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