Lala loses strength after hitting Hawaii: One dead and significant damage to infrastructure
The meteorological phenomenon Lala, which kept the Hawaiian archipelago on edge, was downgraded this Sunday to a tropical storm after leaving a trail of intense rainfall and hurricane-force winds. Despite its weakening, authorities maintain the alert due to the persistence of adverse weather conditions that continue to affect various areas of the region.
The impact of the system has left a regrettable toll. According to reports from local authorities, one person lost their life in a traffic accident on the Big Island, an incident directly related to the deterioration of weather conditions during the passage of the cyclone.
Damage assessment and situation on the islands
Hawaii Governor Josh Green reported that rainfall has accumulated up to 33 centimeters in various locations, causing serious disruptions to the power supply. Approximately 60,000 homes were left without electricity, even affecting three hospitals which, thanks to their auxiliary generator systems, have managed to maintain the necessary operations to serve the population.
- Big Island and Maui: Continue to be under the threat of destructive winds and heavy rain.
- Oahu: Weather conditions are expected to worsen in the coming hours on this island, where Honolulu is located.
- Infrastructure: Although electrical service was damaged, emergency crews are working in the most affected areas.
Although Lala weakened this Sunday, the governor asked the population to remain cautious, since the effects of the storm will continue to be present throughout the day on all the islands.
Forecasts and climate context
Meteorological experts have pointed out that, although maximum sustained winds have decreased to 110 kilometers per hour, the risk of coastal flooding remains high due to storm surge. The system is expected to continue its path westward, gradually moving away from the archipelago. There is a technical possibility that the phenomenon could regain hurricane strength in the coming days as it moves into the Pacific Ocean.
It is important to highlight that the passage of cyclones of this magnitude is a rare event in Hawaii. Since 1950, only two hurricanes have directly impacted these islands. This year’s activity has been classified as atypical, influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, which has caused unusual warming of the Pacific waters, favoring greater storm formation in this basin during the current season.
