Lala’s blow to Hawaii hints at a busier Pacific storm season ahead

Hawaii endured Lala, a rare hurricane that dumped two to three feet of rain on parts of the Big Island and damaged homes, bridges, and schools, with no reported loss of life. Now weakened to a tropical storm, Lala could be a warning of several more impactful Pacific storms through August, as ocean waters remain exceptionally warm due to El Niño, marine heat waves, and climate change, with potential activity near Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and moisture reaching California, signaling a marathon of the eastern and central Pacific hurricane season.