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Hurricane poised to hit Hawaii as El Niño stirs Pacific
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Add as preferred source A strengthening tropical storm named Lala is set to hit Hawaii's Big Island with hurricane-force gales on Saturday, bringing dangerous winds, rainfall and heavy surf.
The governor of the U.S. Pacific island state declared a state of emergency as the storm barreled toward the archipelago, packing winds that could gust up to 85 mph (137 kph).
A hurricane warning was in effect for Hawaii County, which covers the Big Island, and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai and Kahoolawe to its northwest. Lower-grade tropical storm watches were in place for other islands.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said rainfall of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) was expected across Maui and the Big Island, with up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) in certain pockets of the latter, and a storm surge of 1–3 feet (0.3–0.9 meters).
Rough conditions could persist into Sunday.
Gov. Josh Green proclaimed a state of emergency to ensure the state and its counties "have sufficient resources to clear debris, secure infrastructure, and take other measures to prepare."
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said Friday his administration had spent days preparing the area for the storm's impact and urged residents to be ready.
"I am asking everyone to finish your preparations today. Don't wait for the weather to deteriorate," he said.
"Stay informed, stay away from dangerous areas, and make sure your family knows what to do if conditions worsen."
Hawaii's emergency management agency recommended residents clear gutters and drains, move valuables off the ground, seal gaps in doors and remove tree limbs that threaten their properties.
"Stay away from beaches and coastal areas where rough surf and rip currents could sweep you away," it added.
Hawaii was threatened by Hurricane Fausto last month before the storm weakened and skirted north of the island chain.
The state was last hit by a "major" hurricane—meaning Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale—in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki caused at least six deaths and billions of dollars in damage.
The storm comes as a powerful El Niño has formed in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, with temperatures already so high that NOAA now predicts a 69% chance of a "historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Niño events dating back to 1950" when it peaks between October–December.
El Niño , a natural climate pattern in which sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, tends to promote hurricane activity in the Pacific while suppressing it in the Atlantic.
Human-caused climate change can amplify El Niño's impacts because a warmer ocean and atmosphere increase the availability of energy and moisture for extreme weather events, such as heat waves and heavy rainfall.
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HurricaneHawaiiEl NiPacificLalaHawaii's Big Island
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