Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources officials cited Tropical Storm Lala among weather events that caused damage on Maui. In an October 20, 2026, release, the department said: “The recent Kona low, Tropical storm Lala and several other noteworthy weather events have caused downed trees, flooding and damage to many Maui regions.” The release concerned ʻAlalā recovery on Maui and described the storm within a sequence of recent weather events.
By October 23, the National Weather Service’s Kailua-Kona forecast page listed Lala under “Post-Tropical Cyclone Reports.” The forecast described partly cloudy conditions, scattered showers and southeast winds around 10 mph at Keahole Airport. A separate Big Island forecast issued that day called for scattered showers and southeast winds of 5-8 mph.
Other National Weather Service products for late October described trade-wind conditions. A forecast for Heeia on Oahu called for east-northeast winds of 16-18 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph, with a 40%-60% chance of showers. The agency’s October 17 high-seas forecast reported winds of 20-25 knots in parts of the surrounding waters and seas generally between 2.5 and 3 meters in specified areas.
Hawaii’s mountainous terrain can increase the danger of heavy rain by channeling runoff into steep valleys and streams, where water levels may rise quickly. Flooding can also trigger landslides and disrupt roads and utilities. Coastal hazards, including strong surf and rip currents, call for attention to local forecasts and posted beach warnings.
Hurricane landfalls in Hawaii are rare. Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai in 1992, while Tropical Storm Olivia made landfall on Maui in 2018. The impacts recorded on Maui during the later weather sequence show how flooding and fallen trees can affect communities even without a direct hurricane landfall.
Severe weather has also affected other regions. For example, northern and eastern Spain recently dealt with intense storms and hail, prompting orange alerts and emergency measures. These events reflect the varied risks posed by rapidly changing weather systems.
