Aug 15 (Reuters) – Lala, formerly a tropical storm, strengthened into a hurricane on Saturday morning as it approached the Big Island of Hawaii, U.S. weather officials said.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Lala’s maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h), making it a Category 1 hurricane. Earlier, a sustained wind of 41 mph (66 km/h) and a gust of 64 mph (102 km/h) were reported at an observation site near South Point at an elevation of 550 feet (167.6 meters), the center said.
The center’s advisory at 10 a.m. HST (1900 GMT) said Lala was bringing gusty winds and heavy rain as it neared the Big Island. The National Weather Service also warned of dangerous surf and localized flooding.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation said it was closing Hilo International Airport and would close Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole at 2 p.m. HST. The department also closed the Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kaua‘i commercial ports.
(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in Austin, Texas; Editing by Sergio Non and Matthew Lewis)
