The National Hurricane Center has initiated advisories on "Potential Tropical Cyclone One-C" (#PTC1) to the southeast of #Hawaii. This means a tropical storm has not yet formed, but is expected to soon and impact land areas. If/when PTC1 becomes a tropical storm, its name would be #Lala. The system remains highly elongated from southwest to northeast this morning, which has two effects: 1. The system will organize and intensify only gradually at first. 2. It injects some uncertainty into the track forecast, as it is difficult to anticipate precisely where along this elongated zone the storm will ultimately consolidate. Regardless, while it is too early to know all the details, models are in agreement that this storm will pass either over the Hawaiian Islands or close enough to cause life-threatening impacts in some areas. Heavy rains are expected to begin on the "Big Island" of Hawai'i as soon as Friday or Friday night, spreading westward through the weekend. Wind is likely to cause significant hazards as well, as environmental conditions will likely be favorable enough to allow a strong tropical storm or hurricane to develop. Residents should be prepared and have a plan (that includes me on O'ahu!)