Hurricane Lala Nears Hawaii

Hurricane Lala strengthened to a Category 1 storm with 75 mph sustained winds as it neared Hawaii’s Big Island, where tropical-storm conditions and hurricane-force gusts were already being reported. The storm was forecast to pass over or near the island’s southern coast and could become Hawaii’s first direct hurricane landfall since 1992, and the Big Island’s first in 155 years. Forecasters warned of 8 to 12 inches of rain, isolated totals up to 25 inches in higher terrain, flooding and mudslides. A hurricane warning was in effect for the Big Island, with possible storm surge up to 3 feet.