Tropical Storm Lala forms in the Pacific and a hurricane watch is issued for the Big Island of Hawaii, forecasters say

Tropical Storm Lala formed in the central Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning, packing sustained winds of 40 mph that are likely to increase over the coming days.Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for Hawaii County, as the storm could approach hurricane strength this weekend. Tropical Storm Lala is expected to pass over or just south of Hawaiis Big Island as it moves east to west.A hurricane watch is typically issued about 48 hours before the onset of tropical-storm-force winds. Forecasters say heavy rain could pose the biggest danger to Hawaii residents this weekend.

A possible landfall could occur Saturday.RELATED STORY | Contiguous US breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA saysHawaiis topography could also increase the risk of mudslides and flooding.Although hurricanes directly striking Hawaii are rare, they are not unprecedented. The last hurricane to make direct landfall in Hawaii was Category 4 Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Hurricane Dot also struck the island chain directly in 1959.The last tropical storm to make direct landfall was Tropical Storm Donna in 2018.

HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Lala formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean and a hurricane watch has been issued for the Big Island of Hawaii, forecasters said.The storm could bring heavy rain, high winds and dangerous surf to the Hawaiian Islands starting late Friday, the National Hurricane Center said.Lala was about 700 miles (1,127 kilometers) east-southeast of Hawaii with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph), the Miami-based center said. It's moving west.Strengthening is forecast, and Lala could be near hurricane strength as it approaches the Big Island. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible, and it is typically issued 48 hours ahead of potential tropical-storm-force winds.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.

AP’s earlier story follows below.HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Hernan formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean and wasn't threatening land while a different storm system that could bring heavy rain and flooding this weekend moved toward Hawaii, forecasters said.Hernan was about 1,460 miles (2,350 kilometers) west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said. Maximum sustained winds were around 40 mph (64 kph) and it was moving west.Meanwhile, potential Tropical Cyclone One-C was about 775 miles (1,247 kilometers) east-southeast of Hawaii and was forecast to bring heavy rain, high winds and dangerous surf to the Hawaiian Islands starting late Friday.Winds were around 40 mph, but it wasn't organized enough to be considered a tropical storm, the Miami-based center said.It could make landfall on the southern part of the Big Island as a tropical storm on Saturday, forecasters said.The system could bring rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) in the island chain, with up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) possible, forecasters said. That could produce flooding and mudslides, the center said.In the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Cristobal weakened into a tropical depression and was expected to dissipate Thursday, the center said.

It was about 610 miles (982 kilometers) west of the Azores and didn't threaten land. HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Lala forms in the Pacific and a hurricane watch is issued for the Big Island of Hawaii, forecasters say. Tropical Storm Lala formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean, leading to a hurricane watch being issued for the Big Island of Hawaii, forecasters said.