Tropical Storm Lala was upgraded to hurricane status on August 15, moving towards the Hawaiian archipelago, in the United States, with winds of up to 120 km/h. The United States National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the change.
“Recent satellite and radar data show that Lala has gained strength,” reported the NWS in its most recent bulletin, issued at 10 am local time, which corresponds to 4 pm in Brasília time zone.
At the time, the meteorological phenomenon was located 135 kilometers southeast of the Big Island, one of the eight main islands that make up the archipelago in the Pacific.
According to the United States National Hurricane Center, sustained winds reached the 120 km/h mark, placing Lala in category 1 hurricanes.
Airports and commercial ports suspend operations in Hawaii
The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced the closure of Hilo International Airport, in addition to the interruption of activities at Ellison Onizuka International Airport in Kona, starting at 2 pm local time. The agency also blocked access to commercial ports on Hawaii Island, Maui County and Kauai.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Hawaii County, which includes the Big Island. The northwestern islands of Maui, Molokai and Kahoolawe were placed under a tropical storm warning.
The NWS warned of “the forecast of intense rain, powerful winds, dangerous waves and occasional flooding.” The same body also indicated the possibility of landslides occurring in the region.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that Ilha Grande could experience more than 600 millimeters of precipitation and a rise in tides, resulting in “dangerous waves”.
Even before Lala transitioned into a hurricane, a monitoring station near South Point, located 167.6 meters above sea level, had already detected continuous winds of 66 km/h and gusts of 102 km/h, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Early on August 15, while still a tropical storm, Lala generated heavy amounts of rain on the Big Island. Unfavorable weather conditions may persist until August 16th.
The Big Island, with its 210,000 residents, is the second most populous island in the archipelago, surpassed only by Oahu, which is home to more than one million inhabitants.
Governor of Hawaii declares state of emergency for the region
Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed the state of emergency decree on August 13.
In an official statement, Green declared that Lala “poses a serious threat to our state, especially Hawaii Island, and we are taking steps to ensure that necessary resources are accessible in a timely manner.”
Connection between the El Niño phenomenon and climate change
The formation of Hurricane Lala occurs during a period of intense El Niño activity in the central portion of the equatorial Pacific. High ocean temperatures have already led NOAA to estimate a 69% chance that this El Niño, when it reaches its peak between October and December, will become a “historic” event, exceeding the strength of episodes recorded since 1950, which reinforces concern about the frequency and intensity of extreme phenomena in the region.
Experts warn that climate change, driven by human dependence on fossil fuels, has contributed to the increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
