Strong winds and torrential rain are lashing Hawaii after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island on Saturday.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Lala got “closest to [Big Island’s] South Point area”, where a person died in weather-related a car accident.
Lala gained hurricane strength on Saturday after generating 80mph (130km/h) wind speeds, which have since peaked at 91mph. It could dump up to 25in (63cm) of rain and produce a 3ft storm surge.
Tens off thousands have been left without power and officials have warned people to prepare for “life-threatening” conditions, including floods and mudslides.
The storm is forecast to continue moving westward just south of Hawaii into Sunday morning.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Big Island, while Hawaii’s seven other major islands – Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Lanai, Kauai and Niihau – are under tropical storm warnings.
The National Hurricane Center said that, as of 17:00 on Saturday local time (03:00 GMT on Sunday), Lala’s eye wall was “brushing the southern portion of the Big Island”.
“Damaging winds and heavy rain will persist across the Big Island throughout tonight and spread westwards across the smaller islands on Sunday,” it said.
The hurricane did not make landfall, however, instead coming within 30 miles (48km) of South Point.
Green said many roads in Big Island had been affected, with 30 sites having already been visited by crews, and warned residents to brace for an “an incredible amount of water”.
“Please be very safe… you do not want to be out on the roads,” he said in a video update posted across his social media platforms.
Videos posted by Hawaii’s Department of Transportation show roads flooded with fast-moving water and blocked with fallen trees.
