Storm Lala causes widespread outages, road closures in Hawaii

Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday after its eyewall skirted Hawaii without making landfall. But it continued to punish the state with hurricane-force gusts and pounding rain. A search-and-rescue mission that included Civil Defence, the National Guard and a coast guard helicopter was launched after flash floods apparently swept several occupied homes off their foundations in the coastal communities of Na'alehu and Wai'ohinu, near the Big Island's southern tip, authorities said.At least one person died in a vehicle wreck in the South Point area of the Big Island, Governor Josh Green said.

TORRENTIAL rain and flooding as Hurricane Lala skirts Hawaii

10s of thousands left without power, warnings to prep for 'life-threatening' conditions pic.twitter.com/7QNMHPYkgP

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Much of the state remained under a flash flood warning, though the U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded the Big Island to a flood advisory on Sunday. Heavy rain, mudslides, downed trees, active flooding and downed power lines were among the biggest threats, weather service meteorologist Stephen Parker said.
More than 200,000 customers are still without power across the islands, and nearly 70% of the Big Island is without power. Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported in Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties, with the mountainous island terrain amplifying winds at higher elevations.Lala, which strengthened to a Category 1 storm Saturday, made its closest approach to Hawaii’s Big Island at around 5 p.m. local time, with its eyewall brushing the southern portion from roughly 30 miles away, according to the National Hurricane Center.