Hurricane Watch Issued for Hawaii's Big Island as Lala Strengthens

Tropical Storm Lala officially formed Thursday morning southeast of Hawaii, and a Hurricane Watch is now in effect for the Big Island as forecasters warn the storm could reach hurricane strength before it arrives this weekend.

Lala Forms, Track Trends Slightly South of the Big Island

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Lala had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph as of Thursday morning, centered about 705 miles east-southeast of Hilo and moving west at 10 mph. Steady strengthening is forecast, and the storm could be near hurricane strength as it approaches the islands.

On the forecast track, Lala is expected to pass near or just south of the Big Island on Saturday, then track south of the smaller islands through the rest of the weekend. The NHC has issued a Hurricane Watch for Hawaii County, meaning hurricane conditions are possible there within the next 48 hours, with the earliest arrival expected by early Saturday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 140 miles from the storm's center.