Tropical Storm Lala's Impacts Begin in Hawaii Tonight While the Atlantic Disturbances Struggle

Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to become Hurricane Lala as it tracks toward Hawaii. It's a sprawling system and impacts will arrive well before the center approaches the islands and continue well after it has moved past.

Whether the center of Lala officially makes landfall on the Big Island or passes by just to the south, Hawaii Island will take a hard hit. Extreme rainfall – over 2 feet in some locations – will fall on the east flank of the huge mountains. All that water has to run downhill, and that means mudslides and flash flooding.

Lala's winds are forecast to be at hurricane strength when the storm passes just south of the Hawaiian Islands. But those winds are at the surface of the ocean. At higher elevations, the winds are stronger, and they are enhanced by the mountain peaks and passes. Winds could top 100 miles an hour in those areas.