Hurricane Lala is destroying homes in Hawaii, with power outages in rural areas likely to last for months.

On August 15-16, Hurricane Lala caused devastating flooding in Hawaii. Rainwater washed away homes, and strong winds left tens of thousands without power. This disaster is described by San Francisco Chronicle.

The islands' main power supplier warned that power restoration could take weeks or even months in some rural areas. Lala moved along the southern coast of the Big Island (Hawaii) late on August 15 as a Category 1 hurricane and was downgraded to a tropical storm early on August 16. At 5:00 a.m. local time, the storm was located approximately 120 kilometers south of Honolulu and moving northwest. Maximum sustained winds were 113 km/h (70 mph).

Hawaiian Electric reported that nearly 200 residents were without power. Crews have begun assessing damage in accessible areas on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu. The company said that in some areas on the Big Island, power restoration could take weeks or even months.

On the subject: Hawaii suffered its worst flooding in 20 years, causing at least $1 billion in damage.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green called Lalu a "massive storm." Between 60 and 90 centimeters of rain fell on the Big Island's mountain slopes.

In addition to widespread power outages, flash floods tore homes from their foundations in southern communities on the Big Island. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda announced the launch of a massive multi-agency search and rescue operation.

A joint rescue operation began overnight after flash flooding struck the southern coastal villages of Naalehu and Waiohinu. According to the National Weather Service, two homes were washed away in the area. The operation involves county civil defense, firefighters, police, utility services, and the National Guard.

One person was killed in a car crash near the southernmost point of the Big Island, Green said.

The weather service noted that the storm dumped exceptional amounts of rainfall on the southeastern and eastern parts of the Big Island. Particularly severe flash flooding hit the southern district of Kau, with gauges recording more than 38 centimeters of rainfall.

"The situation is very complex: rushing water, debris, boulders on the roads, and it's dark all around," Alameda said.

According to the mayor, 40 residents were safely evacuated, but at least 19 houses had their roofs blown off.

"We will, of course, begin assessing the damage on August 17," Green assured on Saturday. "But we will be responding to emergencies and crises for the next 36 hours."

Employees of Haleakala National Park on Maui were trapped after fallen trees blocked the only road leading to the park. Wind gusts reached 137 km/h (85 mph). The employees are safe and have ample supplies. The park reported significant damage to facilities near its headquarters (at an elevation of approximately 2100 meters) and at an elevation of 2600 meters (9,600 feet).

Although the Big Island suffered the most damage on August 15, Lala could have hit the western Hawaiian Islands on August 16.

On the morning of August 16, a flash flood warning remained in effect for Oahu but was lifted for the Big Island.

"Heavy rains have ended," the weather service said of the island of Hawaii. "Flooding is no longer a threat."

A less severe flood warning was in effect for the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The weather service warned of an additional 5-15 centimeters of rain on Oahu, Molokai, and Lanai. An additional 2,5-7,5 centimeters was expected on the Big Island and Maui. Even heavier rainfall was possible on Kauai.

"This rainfall could cause life-threatening flooding and landslides, especially on steep slopes," the service warned.

Rain is forecast to ease on the evening of August 16, although heavy showers are still possible in the western part of the archipelago on August 17.

The wind peaked on August 15, and was expected to gradually weaken on August 16.

"Tropical storm conditions with sustained winds exceeding 40 mph (63 km/h) will persist across the state until the evening of August 16," the weather service warned. "It's important to note that the mountainous terrain of the islands will likely create localized areas of very strong and damaging winds even far from the cyclone's center."

Lalu was fed by warmer-than-normal waters south of Hawaii, a consequence of human-induced climate change.

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The storm formed amid a strong El Niño pattern, a climate phenomenon that increases the likelihood of Pacific hurricanes. Although Lala was expected to leave Hawaii on Monday, August 17, the state will remain vulnerable to hurricane impacts throughout the fall due to El Niño and the accumulated flood damage from the winter storms.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting a 50 percent chance of a tropical cyclone forming in the central Pacific this week, but it's too early to say whether it will bring more rain and wind to Hawaii.

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