Hurricane Lala moved north toward the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Wednesday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Lala was located at latitude 22.2°N and longitude 171.0°W which put the center about 330 miles (530 km) southeast of Lisianski Island. Lala was moving toward the north-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 140 m.p.h. (220 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 955 mb.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Lisianski Island to Maro Reef.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument from Maro Reef to French Frigate Shoals.
Hurricane Lala maintained its intensity for much of Wednesday. Lala was exhibiting signs of starting to weaken slowly on Wednesday afternoon. An upper level trough that was south of the Aleutian Islands was producing southwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Lala’s circulation. Those winds were causing the vertical wind shear to increase. The increase in vertical wind shear was likely the cause of the weakening of Hurricane Lala.
There was still a small circular eye at the center of Hurricane Lala. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Lala. Storms near the core of Lala generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. The removal of mass in the upper levels was slightly less than the convergence of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. So, the surface pressure started to increase slowly on Wednesday afternoon.
The distribution of wind speeds in Hurricane Lala was still fairly symmetrical on Wednesday afternoon. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Lala’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Hurricane Lala.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Lala is 22.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 11.0 and the Hurricane Wind intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 33.1. Hurricane Lala is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Dennis when Dennis hit Northwest Florida in 2005.
Hurricane Lala will move through an environment that will become unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Lala will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. However, the upper level trough that is south of Aleutian Islands will continue to cause the vertical wind shear to increase on Thursday. Hurricane Lala will continue to weaken during the next 24 hours.
The upper level trough south of the Aleutian Islands will steer Hurricane Lala toward the north on Thursday. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Lala will reach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Thursday night.
Hurricane Lala will bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The winds around Hurricane Lala will also cause high surf conditions.