Possible Tropical Storm Lala Could Threaten Hawaii This Week

A large complex of thunderstorms spinning about 1,000 miles southeast of Hawaii's Big Island could evolve into a named tropical feature by the end of the week. Should this area of low pressure encounter favorable conditions as it moves closer to Hawaii, the islands could be in store for heavy rain, flash flooding, and high winds through the weekend. Read on for all of the details.

Forecasters Identify Zone of Concern Heading Toward Hawaii

Is Tropical Storm Lala on the way? A long plume of storms extending for hundreds of miles has developed an area of rotation in the tropical Pacific. The timing of when this disturbance begins moving to the west-northwest will determine how much it intensifies and if it will impact Hawaii. Forecasters believe that squalls could increase across the island chain heading into the weekend.

A northern track of the feature would send the center of the action over cooler waters, translating to a less intense weather maker with fewer impacts to Hawaii. Conversely, a southern track would bring the storm over warmer waters, providing fuel for the feature to evolve into a tropical storm or a possible lower-end hurricane. This scenario has opened the possibility of the storm moving directly over Hawaii, bearing significant impacts.

Even if the feature does not evolve into a named storm, the tropical wave of moisture could boost trade winds and amplify rain showers and thunderstorm activity over the islands.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Hawaii will partner with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to continue to watch this area of concern in the days ahead. According to the latest NHC update, the system has a 90% chance of becoming Tropical Storm Lala. One of the forecast models signals that the storm could intensify into a hurricane, impacting the Big Island late on Friday.

Powerful El Niño Phase Influencing How Hurricane Season is Unfolding

While the effects of a growing El Niño phase have put a lid on tropical weather development in the Atlantic, the opposite is happening in the eastern and central portions of the Pacific. Strong El Niño years tend to result in elevated tropical activity in the Pacific as wind shear diminishes and allows storms more space to grow. The Eastern Pacific has already seen seven named storms form this season, with the anticipated peak of the activity still to come.

Despite its location in the central Pacific, direct hurricane strikes across Hawaii are a rare occurrence. However, that does not mean that tropical weather impacts are rare. Forecasters are warning residents and tourists in Hawaii to prepare for impacts beginning on Friday and lasting through the weekend. Clear skies are not an indication that seas will not be rough and pose hazards for boaters and swimmers.

Lastly, forecasters with the NHC are also tracking three areas of concern in the Atlantic basin.

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