Tropical Storm Lala Leaves One Dead in Hawaii With Up to 35 Inches of Rain Forecast
Tropical Storm Lala Kills One in Hawaii
One person has died as storm Lala continues to batter parts of Hawaii including the Big Island and Oahu. [3] The storm got closest to the South Point area on the southern tip of the Big Island where one person died in a car accident on Saturday. [3] Hawaii Governor Josh Green said in a post on X that the death occurred as Lala passed near South Point. [3] Lala weakened from hurricane strength to a tropical storm. [3] It is still expected to produce additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches across the Big Island and windward Maui. [3] Maximum storm totals could reach 30 to 35 inches over the Big Island according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. [3] The tropical storm warning was discontinued for Hawaii County which covers the Big Island. [3] The warning still remains in effect for Maui County, Oahu and Kauai County. [3] This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides especially in areas of steep terrain. [3] The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. [3]
Flooding and Power Outages Hit Hawaiian Islands
Almost 60,000 Hawaii customers were without power Sunday morning according to PowerOutage.com. [3] About 106 flights into and out of Honolulu and Hilo were canceled on Sunday as of 3:30 p.m. in New York according to FlightAware. [3] Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. the state’s main utility company said in a statement Sunday that power for customers in some parts of Hawaii Island could remain out for weeks or even months. [3] Help from mainland electric utilities is anticipated to begin Tuesday. [3] It is not yet clear how many transmission lines are down throughout Hawaii a company spokesperson said. [3] Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 miles per hour with higher gusts the hurricane center said. [3] Some restrengthening is forecast by midweek. [3] While the Big Island has gone more than a century without a hurricane strike Hawaii isn’t immune to tropical storms. [3] Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in 1992 and the state has faced weaker tropical storms and near misses since then. [3] In 2023 Hurricane Dora passed far to the south but helped set up wind patterns that fanned flames across Maui where fires raged out of control and killed more than 100 people. [3]
Flash Flood Warning Issued for Kentucky and West Virginia
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Lawrence County in northeastern Kentucky and southwestern Wayne County in western West Virginia until 11:15 p.m. EDT. [1] At 8:16 p.m. EDT Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. [1] Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. [1] Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. [1] The hazard is flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. [1] The source is radar indicated. [1]
Severe Thunderstorms Sweep Eastern Kentucky
The National Weather Service in Jackson KY has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for southern Morgan County in southeastern Kentucky, northwestern Breathitt County in southeastern Kentucky, northwestern Magoffin County in southeastern Kentucky and Wolfe County in southeastern Kentucky until 8:45 p.m. EDT. [2] At 8:16 p.m. EDT a severe thunderstorm was located over Toliver or 7 miles northeast of Campton moving east at 35 mph. [2] The hazard is 60 mph wind gusts. [2] The source is radar indicated. [2] At 8:15 p.m. EDT a severe thunderstorm was located over Cliff or near Prestonsburg moving east at 45 mph. [4] The hazard is 60 mph wind gusts. [4] The source is radar indicated. [4] The impact is expect damage to roofs siding and trees. [4] Locations impacted include Prestonsburg and Beaver Junction. [4]
West Virginia Counties Under Severe Thunderstorm Warning
The National Weather Service in Charleston West Virginia has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for southeastern Calhoun County in north central West Virginia, northwestern Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia, eastern Kanawha County in central West Virginia, southwestern Braxton County in north central West Virginia, southeastern Roane County in central West Virginia, Clay County in north central West Virginia and northwestern Fayette County in southeastern West Virginia. [5]
Broader 2026 Severe Weather Context
No hurricanes struck the U.S. in 2025 and so far only two tropical storms have struck the Gulf Coast in 2026. [3] Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi devastated the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands earlier this year. [3]
What to watch next: Some restrengthening of Lala is forecast by midweek while help from mainland electric utilities is anticipated to begin Tuesday and the tropical storm warning remains in effect for Maui County, Oahu and Kauai County.
