Hawaii has two tropical systems to watch, but they are not one storm. Hurricane Lala was moving away from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in the latest complete advisory, while Tropical Depression Two-C was organizing far to the east-southeast and tracking toward the vicinity of the main Hawaiian Islands.

That distinction matters. Lala's warnings were focused on the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Two-C had no coastal watches or warnings at the latest check, but its forecast included heavy rain, possible flooding and mudslides, strong surf, and a risk of wind and wave impacts across the islands.

What Hurricane Lala is doing

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center's Advisory No. 36, issued at 11 p.m. HST Thursday, placed Lala near 26.6N, 171.7W, about 115 miles northwest of Maro Reef and 145 miles east-northeast of Lisianski Island. Maximum sustained winds were 100 mph, and the storm was moving north-northeast at 9 mph.

A hurricane warning remained in effect for the monument from Lisianski Island to Maro Reef. A tropical storm warning covered the monument east of Maro Reef to French Frigate Shoals. The forecast said Lala would continue moving farther away from the monument, with conditions expected to improve near the islands Friday, although large surf and inundation of some low-lying atolls remained concerns.

What Tropical Depression Two-C could bring

Two-C was near 13.0N, 145.6W, about 780 miles southeast of Hilo, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. It was moving west-northwest at about 10 mph. The forecast said the system should pass south of the Big Island this weekend and the smaller main islands early next week, with gradual strengthening possible.

The most immediate concern in the advisory was rainfall. Forecasters expected 5 to 10 inches across the Big Island, with maximum amounts of 15 inches, 1 to 2 inches with locally higher amounts on windward Maui, and 1 to 2 inches possible elsewhere. That rain may create life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain and areas recently affected by Lala.

The advisory also warned of swells, dangerous surf, and rip currents. The storm's exact track and intensity can change, so a calm-looking forecast window is not a reason to ignore later local warnings.

What residents, visitors, and boaters should do

  • Residents: check island-specific NWS forecasts, flood products, and county emergency instructions. Keep alerts enabled and review medication, charging, food, and evacuation plans.
  • Visitors: check airlines, airports, hotels, rental-car companies, tour operators, and inter-island transportation directly. Do not use a national storm headline to answer a local travel question.
  • Boaters and beachgoers: follow marine, surf, and rip-current guidance. Large waves and changing winds can be dangerous well away from a storm's center.
  • Everyone: never drive or walk through floodwater. Follow an active warning or evacuation instruction over a reposted map or social update.

Why the systems must stay separate

Lala and Two-C have different positions, forecast tracks, warning areas, and hazards. A map showing both can make the whole Central Pacific look like a single threat, but the official text tells a more useful story: Lala was departing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, while Two-C was the system to monitor for rainfall and local impacts on the main islands.

What to check next

  1. Read the newest advisory for each system and note its issue time.
  2. Check NWS Honolulu for your island's wind, rain, surf, flood, and marine products.
  3. Follow county emergency managers for protective-action instructions.
  4. If traveling or boating, verify the operator's status directly before leaving.

FAQ

Is Hurricane Lala headed for Honolulu?

The latest complete advisory placed Lala north of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and forecast it to move farther away. That does not replace current local forecasts, but it is separate from the main-island rainfall concern tied to Two-C.

Is Tropical Depression Two-C the same storm as Lala?

No. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued separate advisories and forecast tracks for the two systems.

Are there Hawaii coastal warnings for Two-C?

There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect in Advisory No. 4. Readers should check the newest product because watches and warnings can change.

Bottom line

The useful Hawaii forecast read is two-part: Lala was moving away from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, while Two-C was the system that could bring heavy rain, flooding, surf, and wind concerns to portions of the main islands this weekend and early next week. Keep the systems separate, follow local official products, and make decisions based on your island and location.

Sources

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