Hurricane Lala Turns Hilo's Rainbow Falls Into a Roaring Torrent
AccuWeather posted split-screen footage showing Rainbow Falls in Hilo swelling dramatically after Hurricane Lala, while the storm left thousands without power and caused at least one fatal crash.
AccuWeather shared a split-screen video on X that contrasted the serene pre-storm appearance of Hilo's Rainbow Falls with its post-storm surge, illustrating the intensity of Hurricane Lala's rain. The storm, which began on August 12, has been downgraded to a tropical storm but still carries sustained winds of 60 mph and is moving west at 12 mph. Across Hawaii, more than 113,000 customers remain without electricity, and over 100 residences have suffered damage, according to Poweroutage.com.
At least one person died in a storm-related automobile crash, and brown-water advisories warn of polluted runoff statewide. Mayor Kimo Alameda highlighted the danger of downed power lines and debris, while the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency urged residents to sign up for alerts. Governor Josh Green announced the temporary shutdown of all state and county government offices and public schools, with crews working through Sunday night and Monday to clear debris, address flooding, and restore roadways, aiming to resume normal operations on Tuesday, August 18.
Why it matters
The storm’s damage to infrastructure and safety alerts affect thousands of residents and disrupt daily life across Hawaii.
How this story developed
- Aug 15 Tropical Storm Lala threatens Hawaii's Big Island with record rain and winds
- Aug 15 Lala was upgraded to a hurricane as it neared the islands.
- Aug 16 Several flights to and within Hawaii were cancelled as the storm approached the Big Island.
- Aug 16 The hurricane’s eye passed the southern tip of the Big Island, bringing sustained winds up to 120 km/h and heavy rain.
- Aug 16 Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm, leaving about 130,000 households without power and causing one death.
- Aug 17 Authorities say no fatalities are believed to have occurred.
In this story
Related stories
2 in this thread