Hurricane Lala has strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane as it moves west away from Hawaii, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. As of late Tuesday, Lala was located approximately 335 miles (535 kilometers) south-southeast of Maro Reef and was traveling west-northwest at 125 mph (205 kph).
The storm has been designated the first major hurricane of 2026 in the Central Pacific. Forecasters anticipate it will remain a hurricane for the next several days, with expectations of strengthening tonight before a gradual weakening trend.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, indicating that hurricane conditions are expected within approximately 36 hours.
Last Sunday, the storm impacted parts of Hawaii as it passed by without making landfall, having weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm. Cleanup and power restoration efforts were underway in some areas of the state.
