(NEW YORK) — Tropical Storm Lala has formed in the central Pacific Ocean and is forecast to strengthen, possibly nearing hurricane strength, in the coming days as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday.
A hurricane watch was issued Thursday for the Big Island.
The storm is currently about 680 miles east-southeast from Hilo, Hawaii, on the east coast of the Big Island, as of Thursday afternoon. Winds are 40 mph.
Tropical Storm Lala could reach near-hurricane strength in the next several days as the storm is forecast to gradually strengthen.
The storm is currently moving west at 10 mph. It is expected to pass near or just south of the Big Island on Saturday and pass south of the other Hawaiian islands the rest of the weekend.
Heavy rain, strong winds and rough surf are likely this weekend. The exact timing and intensity of the impacts are still uncertain and will depend on the Lala’s exact track.
Heavy rainfall on the Big Island on Friday could bring life-threatening mudslides and landslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.
An ABC News graphic shows the weather forecast on Monday, June 15, 2025. (ABC News)
(NEW YORK) — Areas in Texas are seeing from 3″ to more than 5″ of rainfall within hours, leading to flash flooding in places like Waco and Austin, with a flood watch in effect for much of central and southern Texas.
Flash flooding on I-35 in Waco led to water rescues and stranded vehicles. The Texas Game Wardens said on social media that their rescue teams and local partners were responding to “numerous” calls involving people trapped by floodwater.
Videos from the area show the flooding as well as first responders helping some of those who were stranded.
“I am sincerely lucky to be alive. When I got there, there were no first responders,” Rick Smith, who filmed a video showing people wading through waist-high water, wrote on social media. “I am so thankful that retaining wall held up otherwise this situation could’ve been a horrible tragedy. There were many of us literally trapped on I 35.”
A stationary frontal boundary is draped across the South, bringing daily flash flood risks to the region through the week ahead.
A flood watch continues for central and southern Texas through much of Louisiana and Southwest Mississippi through Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, depending on location. Torrential rainfall rates of 2″ to 4″ per hour are possible.
Houston is under a level 3/4 moderate risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding for four days in a row — Monday through Thursday. Significant flood events are possible each day.
A low pressure system from the Gulf could bring more rain to South Texas mid to late week, hence the high rain and flooding potential there.
A widespread 4″ to 6″ is expected across southeast Texas, much of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Thursday.
The Houston area and other pockets of the South could see more than half-a foot of rain, and in a worst-case scenario depending on what happens later in the week, a 5-day total of 10″ plus is possible for the Houston region.
Dangerous heat in the Pacific Northwest
Record high temperatures started in western Washington and Oregon on Sunday — with new high temp record for Seattle (89) and Portland (94).
Record highs will be possible again on Monday, with highs near 100 for Portland and near 90 in Seattle.
An extreme heat warning continues on Monday for Portland, along with a heat advisory for Seattle. Temperatures will be cooler on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the 70s for Seattle and 80s for Portland.
Severe threat mid-week
Wednesday, a level 3/5 enhanced threat is in place from Missouri through central Illinois and Indiana. Destructive wind, large hail, and strong tornadoes are possible.
Indianapolis, St. Louis, Springfield and Peoria, Illinois, and Columbia, Missouri, are included in the threat.
A level 2/5 is in place for Chicago, Columbus, Kansas City, Wichita and Toledo.
ABC News’ Jessica Gorman and Camilla Alcini contributed to this report.
U.S. Forest Service Climbing Rangers responded to a rescue involving a 31-year-old female climber who suffered a serious fall while ascending the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route on Mount Shasta. (U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest)
(CALIFORNIA) — U.S. Forest Service Rangers rescued a woman over the weekend who was climbing Mt. Shasta in California and fell over 1,500 feet in the snow.
The unidentified 31-year-old woman was part of a group of three novice climbers who were ascending the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route on Mount Shasta on Sunday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Around noon that day, the rangers got a call about the woman falling approximately 1,500 vertical feet before coming to rest on the mountain, according to the Forest Service.
Weather conditions prevented a helicopter rescue so three rangers ascended on foot, the Forest Service said.
They were assisted by one member of the climbing party who had descended to help carry rescue equipment, according to the Forest Service. Another climber who happened to be in the area also stopped to assist the injured climber and remained with the group throughout the rescue, the Forest Service said.
The woman who fell was found safe and in good spirits with a suspected fractured right ankle and other injuries, according to the Forest Service.
The civilian and Forest Service rescuers secured the woman in a SKED rescue litter and lowered her to Lake Helen before a California Highway Patrol helicopter transported her to a hospital, the Forest Service said.
“This incident serves as an important reminder that Mount Shasta is a high-altitude mountaineering environment, not a hike. Even experienced climbers can encounter rapidly changing weather, steep snow and ice, rockfall, and hazardous fall conditions,” the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement.
Former Shelby police officer Karson Hyder is seen in a booking photo released by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. (North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation)
(SHELBY, N.C.) — A former North Carolina police officer who was seen in a viral doorbell camera video repeatedly punching a woman during an arrest has been charged with assault, authorities said.
Former Shelby Police Officer Karson Hyder, 22, turned himself in on Monday, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which said it has charged him with one count of assault inflicting serious injury in connection with Friday’s incident.
He was processed at the Cleveland County Detention Center and released on a $10,000 secured bond, the bureau said. It is unclear if he has an attorney at this time.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said it initiated an investigation that “examined an allegation of excessive use of force” at the request of the Shelby police chief and the Cleveland County District Attorney.
Hyder was fired Saturday after the Shelby Police Department completed an administrative investigation into the incident, according to Shelby Police Chief Brad Fraser.
“While this incident does not reflect the values of the Shelby Police Department, it does reinforce the importance of holding ourselves to the highest standards of conduct,” Fraser said during a press briefing on Saturday, calling the former officer’s actions “disturbing and inappropriate.”
Officers were conducting a criminal investigation in Shelby on Friday when they encountered a “suspicious female,” Fraser said.
The doorbell video appears to show an officer repeatedly punching a woman, identified as 34-year-old Cherrie Moore, during an arrest before another officer appears to intervene. It is unclear what happened before the video.
Hyder did not respond to ABC News’ requests for comment.
Moore’s family, who had called for the officer to be charged, told ABC News on Monday that they “feel great” about the charging decision. Her uncle said she suffered a broken nose in the incident but the extent of her injuries was not clear.
“We just want the right thing done, and I think the first right thing is that he be charged,” Moore’s uncle, Michael Moore, previously told ABC News. “Once he’s charged, then we can move forward.”
Moore has mental health issues and is homeless, her uncle said.
She was initially charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering, resisting arrest and assault on a government official, which were ultimately dropped, according to her family.
Moore was charged with resisting a public officer in August 2025 in an incident that also involved Hyder, court documents obtained by ABC News show. She pleaded guilty the following month and was sentenced to time served, according to the filings.
ABC News’ Nadine El-Bawab, Matt Foster and Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
