Hawaii on alert for possible direct hurricane strike as Lala nears
Hawaii faces a potential direct strike from Category 1 Hurricane Lala, the first to threaten the state since 1992, with winds near 75 mph, up to 25 inches of rain on the Big Island and a possible 3-foot storm surge. A hurricane warning covers the Big Island and tropical storm warnings for Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau; officials warn of life-threatening floods and mudslides, and flights have been canceled as shelters prepare. The storm is expected to pass near the Big Island this weekend, possibly weakening to a tropical storm afterward, while scientists note record July ocean temperatures linked to El Niño that can fuel such systems.