Tropical Storm Lala to strike Hawaii with flooding rain, high winds and dangerous surf this weekend
Tropical Storm Lala has formed southeast of Hawaii and could strengthen into a hurricane, bringing dangerous surf, heavy rain, flooding and damaging winds to the islands this weekend.
Tropical Storm Lala could bring up to 2 feet of rain to Hawaii this weekend, and it’s possible that the storm could reach hurricane strength.
A large area of thunderstorms about 1,000 miles southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii has strengthened into Tropical Storm Lala. It is forecast to strengthen further in the coming days, possibly becoming a hurricane this weekend, prior to brushing land.
The tropical storm with its showers and thunderstorms extends hundreds of miles from southwest to northeast, with some broad rotation evident within the moisture zone on Thursday.
The area of interest was nearly stationary during the first part of this week, but it is beginning to move westward.
This image was captured early Thursday morning on Aug. 13, 2026, and shows Tropical Storm Lala (center), which is forecast to bring impacts to Hawaii by Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hernan (top right) is moving through the open Pacific. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
At this time, the center of the storm is expected to track just south of the island chain.
Conditions along the projected AccuWeather track will allow for some strengthening, perhaps to a hurricane, due to warm waters in the region.
However, the exact track will depend on where the main center of the storm takes shape. Should the center reorganize a bit farther south, the storm track could shift southward as well. Should the storm strengthen significantly, the center could track farther north over the Big Island.
Because of anticipated strengthening, AccuWeather meteorologists expect the storm to produce dangerous seas and surf, heavy rain, flash flooding and locally damaging winds.
Due to flash flooding, strong winds and dangerous rip currents, Lala is rated a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes in Hawaii. This scale accounts for impacts from rain, flooding, mudslides, storm surge, disruptions to activities, economic losses and wind. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale factors in only the wind intensity of hurricanes.
Torrential rain and flash flooding pose the greatest risk to lives and property, as some of the heaviest downpours will occur on the leeward (trade wind rain-shadowed) side of the islands.
A broad area is forecast to receive 2-8 inches of rain is forecast. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ rainfall is 24 inches on the Big Island.
Rain and gusty winds are forecast to spread across the Big Island beginning on Friday then spread northwestward over the rest of the island chain through the weekend.
While wind gusts strong enough to cause sporadic power outages will be possible throughout the islands, the greatest risk of more significant wind damage will be on parts of the Big Island from Friday to Saturday. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust is 85 mph.
"One close comparison storm to the current situation in Hawaii was Hurricane Hone in August of 2024," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "Hone went just south of the Big Island but still brought 70-mph winds and 2 feet of rain."
Residents and visitors throughout the islands should be prepared for strong tropical storm to hurricane conditions heading into this weekend.
Hazardous seas and surf will build in the waters around the islands from the southeast to the northwest. A storm surge of 1-3 feet is forecast for the southern part of the Big Island, where the AccuWeather StormMax™ is 6 feet.
Just east of Tropical Storm Lala, Tropical Storm Hernan formed early Thursday morning. Hernan will continue to move across the open Pacific as it slowly loses wind intensity through the weekend. Hernan is not expected to pose a threat to land.
How common are hurricane strikes on Hawaii?
Direct hurricane strikes on Hawaii are rare despite the island chain's location in the central Pacific.
Several factors can limit the hurricane threat, including surrounding ocean temperatures, atmospheric wind patterns and wind shear. Hawaii's rugged terrain can also significantly disrupt a tropical storm or hurricane that moves directly over an island. Mauna Kea on the Big Island rises nearly 13,800 feet above sea level.
"Since 1900, there has never been a hurricane that has made landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii," DaSilva added. "There have only been two named storms that have made landfall on the Big Island: Darby in July 2016 and Iselle in August 2014."
Both Darby and Iselle were once powerful major hurricanes over the open Pacific, but both lost wind intensity to tropical storms prior to reaching the Big Island.
"Only two hurricanes have made landfall in Hawaii since the 1950s," DaSilva said. "Hurricane Dot made landfall on Kauai in August 1959, and Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in September 1992. Neither made landfall on the Big Island."
Busy hurricane season to get busier, due to strengthening El Niño
As of Aug. 11, the eastern Pacific has produced seven named storms, including two hurricanes, so far this season as El Niño continues to strengthen.
Genevieve became the strongest of the two hurricanes, reaching Category 5 intensity with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph in late July.
Fausto is the only named storm so far this season to have traveled as far west as Hawaii's longitude. The weakening tropical storm passed well north of the islands in late July, limiting its effects to increased waves and isolated showers.
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