Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to discuss the city's preparations as Hurricane Lala approaches Hawaii. Hurricane Lala strengthened into a Category 1 storm on Saturday, with 75mph winds and up to 30 inches of rain threatening Hawaii's Big Island. Officials have declared a state of emergency as heavy surf, flash flooding, mudslides, high winds and severe rain could cause devastation to the area.
Hawaii officials held a press conference Saturday night as Hurricane Lala brushed the southern tip of the Big Island as a Category 1 storm. Heavy winds and rainfall have already left thousands without power. Officials urged residents to shelter in place throughout the night as conditions are expected to worsen. Flash flooding, mudslides and dangerous winds are also expected to bring damage to the islands.
Hurricane Lala formed Saturday on a path to make landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island, the National Hurricane Center said.
AI:Hurricane Lala has officially intensified into a hurricane and is currently barreling directly toward Hawaii's Big Island. The storm is bringing a surge of heavy rain and high winds as it approaches landfall, representing a dangerous escalation from its previous status as a tropical storm. This intensification follows several days of escalating warnings from meteorological agencies regarding the storm's trajectory and its potential to deliver one of the most severe impacts seen in recent decades.Open
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is shooting lava fountains up to 1,000 feet, and falling ash and volcanic fragments are forcing temporary closures on the Big Island
