Tropical Storm Lala formed over the Central Pacific Ocean east-southeast of Hawaii on Thursday morning.  A Hurricane Watch was issued for the Big Island of Hawaii.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Lala was located at latitude 15.4°N and longitude 145.8°W which put the center about 680 miles (1095 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.  Lala was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1001 mb.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Hawaii County.

More thunderstorms formed near the center of a low pressure system formerly called Potential Tropical Cyclone One-C on Thursday morning and the U.S. Central Pacific Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Lala.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Lala exhibited more organization on Thursday.  New thunderstorms were developing near the center of Lala’s circulation.  Other thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and eastern parts of Tropical Storm Lala.  Storms near the center of Lala generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The strongest winds were occurring in the eastern half of Tropical Storm Lala.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (220 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Lala’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) in the southeastern quadrant of Tropical Storm Lala.  The winds in the western half of Lala’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Lala will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Lala will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C.  It will move under the eastern part of an upper level ridge that is east of Hawaii.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Lala’s circulation.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Lala will intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Lala will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Central Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Lala toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Lala will move toward Hawaii.  Lala could reach the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Hernan strengthened a little as it moved far to the west of Baja California.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Hernan was located at latitude 18.0°N and longitude 131.9°W which put the center about 1460 miles (2350 km) west of the the southern tip of Baja California.  Hernan was moving toward the west-southwest at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.