UPDATED 1 p.m.

Peak impacts from Lala, now a Category 1 hurricane, will arrive this afternoon and evening, according to the county.

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Residents and visitors should seek safe shelter and are urged to stay off the roadways due to risks of life-threatening flooding and damaging winds islandwide.

As of 11 a.m. today, Lala was located 65 miles south-southeast of South Point with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

A hurricane warning is still in effect for Hawaii Island, meaning hurricane-force winds (over 74 mph) are expected, as well as a flood watch, through Saturday night. A high surf warning for east-facing shores remains in effect through Sunday morning.

Throughout the hurricane, windward areas could see rain accumulations of up to 20 inches, with the possibility of some isolated areas exceeding 30 inches. Leeward areas also face a significant flood risk, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 11 a.m., the hurricane has produced heavy rainfall across large areas of the island and wind gusts near 80 mph in South Kohala. Widespread power outages have been reported, and multiple road closures have occurred.

As of 11 a.m., about Hawaiian Electric 18,700 customers were without power in North and South Hilo, North and South Kohala, Hamakua and Puna.

On the Hamakua Coast, HECO crews are assessing a 42-mile span of transmission lines after fallen trees knocked down multiple poles and structures.

“We are receiving reports of downed trees and road closures across the island, and hazardous weather conditions will continue to intensify today,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said this afternoon in a statement. “While road crews are working hard to clear debris as conditions allow, we need all residents and visitors to heed all warnings, move into safe shelter, and stay off the roadways. For your safety, and the safety of our first responders, we urge our community to continue to hunker down until this hurricane passes.”

Road closures as of 12:30 p.m.:

— Highway 250: both lanes closed between mile markers 1 and 19.

— Highway 19: both lanes closed at mile marker 53.7.

— Highway 11: both lanes closed between mile markers 57 and 62.

— Highway 11: both lanes closed between mile markers 66 and 68.

— North Kulani Road.

— Government Beach Road from Hawaiians Shores to Waa Waa Road (residents only).

— Haao Springs Road.

— Kaʻalaiki Road (Cane Haul Road).

— East Kawailani Street between Hoonani Place and Kamalii Street.

— Mud Lane.

— Puako Beach Drive.

Residents in need of immediate assistance — such as food, clothing, debris removal, or shelter — from a coalition of nonprofits, businesses and government agencies can complete a request for assistance form at http://bit.ly/vh-rfa.

Damage reports can be submitted at the following link — Bit.ly/CDDisasterRecovery — or by calling Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.

UPDATED 9:48 a.m.

More than 9,700 Hawaiian Electric customers are without power islandwide.

UPDATED 9:25 a.m.

Lala has been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as it bears down on Hawaii Island this morning.

At 9 a.m., the Central Pacific Hurricane Center upgraded Lala from a tropical storm as its maximum sustained winds grew to 75 mph.

The hurricane was about 85 miles south-southeast of South Point and 300 miles southeast of Honolulu. It is now moving west at 10 mph, which is change of direction from west-northwest.

”Recent radar and satellite data indicate that Lala has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph,” CPHC said at 9 a.m. “A wind gust of 49 mph (79 km/h) was recently reported near Kealakomo south of Volcano within the last hour.”

UPDATED 9:15 a.m.

Heavy rain and tropical-storm force wind gusts were spreading across Hawaii island this morning as a strengthening Tropical Storm Lala moved within 100 miles of South Point.

As of 8 a.m., Lala was about 90 miles south-southeast of South Point and 300 miles southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and higher gusts, moving west-northwest at 13 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

The maximum sustained winds grew by 5 mph since 5 a.m. and are just a few miles below hurricane strength.

“Some additional strengthening is possible today, and Lala is expected to be near or at hurricane intensity while it is near the Big Island of Hawaii. Weakening is expected tonight and on Sunday,” the 8 a.m. update said. “After passing the Big Island, Lala is expected to turn westward on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, with the core of the storm staying south of remainder of the main Hawaiian islands”

Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend 205 miles from the center.

The maximum sustained winds grew by 5 mph since 5 a.m. and are just a few miles below hurricane strength.

“Some additional strengthening is possible today, and Lala is expected to be near or at hurricane intensity while it is near the Big Island of Hawaii. Weakening is expected tonight and on Sunday,” the 8 a.m. update said.

Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend 205 miles from the center.

Hawaiian Electric reported that 4,050 customers were without power as of 7 a.m., mainly in Puna, North and South Kohala and South Hilo.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Hawaii County.

“Tropical-storm-force winds gusts are occurring at elevated locations on the Big Island with wind gusts approaching tropical storm force at lower elevated locations,” forecasters said. “A wind gust to 38 mph was recently reported at Hilo.” A wind gust to 40 mph was also recently reported at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.

The state Department of Transporation reported weather-related road closures across Hawaii Island, including:

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— Kohala Mountain Road closed between Hawaii Preparatory Academy to the Akoni Pule Highway junction at Hawi due to unsafe conditions of down branches, limbs and trees.

— On Hawaii Belt Road, a landslide blocking one lane near mile markers 28-29.

Flood advisories were in effect for Hawaii island this morning as rain was falling at up to 1.5 inch an hour over windward Big Island. Areas under the advisories include Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kapaau, Honokaa, Mountain View, Hakalau, Glenwood, and Volcano.

“Water levels in area streams are slowly rising. The showers are expected to increase in intensity as the morning progresses,” forecasters said. “The showers are expected to increase in intensity as the morning progresses.”Some rain bands could have locally

As of 7:45 a.m., 24-hour rainfall totals for Big Island range from less than an inch to over 12 inches in Kawainui Stream and over 11 inches in Laupahoehoe, according to the National Weather Service. Hilo Airport recorded about 1.5 inches.

PREVIOUSLY

Lala, a powerful tropical storm, could become the first hurricane to make landfall on Hawaii Island in over 150 years later today as it continues on a path near or over the southern end of the island.

Big Island residents are advised to stay sheltered, while the rest of the state is advised to make final emergency preparations for Lala’s high winds and heavy rains as the storm passes south of the smaller islands through the weekend.

Hawaii Island is already feeling the effects of Lala as heavy rain, life-threatening surf and powerful wind gusts lash the area. The risk of flooding and mudslides is most imminent on the Big Island, but all state residents and visitors should expect potentially dangerous weather through Sunday.

As of 5 a.m. today, Lala was about 110 miles southeast of South Point and 325 miles southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and higher gusts, moving west-northwest at 13 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend 205 miles from the center.

“Strong tropical-storm-force wind gusts are occurring on the Hawaiian islands from the Big Island to Oahu,” CPHC forecasters said this morning.

They said that forecast models suggest that Lala’s center may get pulled northwest into or near the Big Island by this afternoon.

The storm is forecast to peak at 75 mph maximum sustained winds by this afternoon, making it barely a Category 1 hurricane. But forecasters warn that there is “no practical difference” between a strong tropical storm and minimal hurricane, “especially since hurricane-force gusts are expected on the Big Island regardless.”

”Lala has about 12 hours left for some strengthening before the center reaches the Big Island, and the (National Hurricane Center) forecast continues to show the storm becoming a hurricane near the southern coast of the Big Island.”

Lala is expected to weaken after its circulation interacts with the Big Island, and it will turn west on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, and the core of the storm staying south of remainder of the main Hawaiian islands, they said.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Hawaii County. The entire state is under a flood watch, and a high surf warning is in effect for the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. The National Weather Service said there was a report of waves crashing over condominiums in Keauhou.

Hurricane-force gusts are expected on the Big Island today, with the strongest winds possible in higher elevations.

The Big Island could receive 10 to 20 inches of rain, with some areas getting up to 25 inches. The heavy rain could cause dangerous flooding and mudslides, especially in areas near steep slopes.

Surf already is building along east-facing shores and is expected to increase along south-facing shores as Lala moves south of the islands. The waves could create dangerous rip currents, coastal flooding and beach erosion.

The last hurricane to directly hit Hawaii Island is believed to be in August 1871. Lala would also be the first hurricane to directly hit the state since 1992 when the deadly Category 4 Iniki devastated Kauai.

If Lala’s center moves over the Big Island as expected, it will be the first direct strike of a tropical cyclone for the island since Darby in 2016, which was a minimal tropical storm when it crossed the southern end of Hawaii Island.

The more-powerful Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014 also hit the southern end of the island directly, causing millions of dollars in widespread damage and long-lasting power outages throughout the island.

The county at 6 p.m. Friday opened emergency shelters islandwide. They are:

— Hisaoka Gym in North Kohala

— Waikoloa Elementary School Cafeteria, Waikoloa Village

— Kahilu Town Hall, Waimea

— Honokaa Armory, Honokaa

— Laupahoehoe Charter School Band Room, Laupahoehoe

— Waiakea High School Gymnasium, Hilo

— Keaau Armory, Keaau

— Pahoa Community Center, Pahoa

— Pahala Gymnasium, Pahala

— Naalehu Elementary School Gymnasium, Naalehu

— Yano Hall, Captain Cook

— Kealakehe High School Gymnasium, Kailua-Kona

Anyone using the shelters should bring their own personal and sleeping supplies, officials said.

All the shelters are pet-friendly, the county said, but animals must be in a carrier.

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