Hurricane poised to hit Hawaii as El Nino stirs Pacific

A tropical storm named Lala is set to hit Hawaii's Big Island with hurricane force gales on Saturday, bringing dangerous winds, rainfall and heavy surf. The Hawaiian Governor declared a state of emergency as the storm barreled towards the archipelago.

Hawaiian emergency management agency recommended residents clear gutters and drains and remove tree limbs that threaten their properties. The storm comes as a powerful El Nino has formed in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean, with higher temperatures.