Hawaii bracing for 'enormous' storm as Lala strengthens into a hurricane (independent.co.uk)

Hurricane Lala gathered strength on Saturday as it moved along a track that could result in a rare direct landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island. The National Hurricane Center upgraded Lala to a Category 1 hurricane after maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 kph). The storm’s eyewall was projected to pass over or near the southern end of the island by Saturday evening, bringing its strongest winds to high-altitude volcanic slopes. The Big Island has not experienced a direct hurricane landfall in 155 years. Regardless of whether the eye makes landfall, meteorologists warned that higher elevations near the Mauna Kea volcano could receive up to 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rain. The rainfall creates a risk of life-threatening mudslides in mountainous areas where residents live off the grid in improvised housing. Officials urged individuals in vulnerable locations to seek safe shelter immediately. Even if the system drops slightly below hurricane strength, the NHC noted that wind speeds across mountain peaks and both windward and leeward slopes "are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds" cited in its advisories. "This is an enormous storm," Gov. Josh Green said. Tropical storm-force winds stretched outward up to 220 miles (350 km),...