HONOLULU -- 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 kilometres) east-southeast of Hawaii with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h), 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 — 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 kilometres) 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 km/h) and it was moving west. Meanwhile, potential Tropical Cyclone One-C was about 775 miles (1,247 kilometres) 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 centre 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 centimetres) in the island chain, with up to 20 inches (51 centimetres) possible, forecasters said. That could produce flooding and mudslides, the centre said. The Associated Press
