Tropical Storm Lala strengthened in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center on Thursday and forecasters predict the storm will become a hurricane Saturday as it nears Hawaii Island, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and high surf to the islands.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches across Hawaii Island and Maui are expected, with possible maximum rainfall totals of 25 inches across the Big Isle.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the island, which means dangerous and damaging winds are possible within 36 hours.

If Tropical Storm Lala hits the Big Island directly, it will be the first direct strike of a tropical cyclone for the island since Tropical Storm Darby in 2016. The only other named storm to make landfall on Hawaii Island since 1900, Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014, caused widespread damage.

If Lala makes landfall as a hurricane, it will be the first time since Hurricane Iniki in 1992 that a hurricane made a direct hit on the state.

“Whether Lala becomes a hurricane will depend on the exact track of the storm. A more southern track will lead to warmer waters for the storm to track over, along with less interaction with the Islands itself,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Nicholas Arman. “Should the storm track further south from the Big Island, there will be a greater chance of it becoming a hurricane. A storm closer to the islands will likely have less potential of becoming a hurricane.”

At 5 p.m. Thursday, Lala was located about 555 miles east-southeast of Hilo.

Lala was packing maximum sustained winds of 60 mph as it moves west-northwest at 12 mph. A faster west-northwest motion is predicted over the next several days.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles from the storm’s center.

Lala is forecast to be near or just south of Hawaii Island on Saturday and pass south of the rest of the islands over the weekend. Hurricane conditions are possible on Hawaii Island by early Saturday.

“Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater,” according to the forecast.

Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed an emergency proclamation declaring a state of emergency for Hawaii ahead of the storm.

The proclamation activates the Major Disaster Fund, authorizes the activation of the Hawaii National Guard, if needed, and directs state agencies to provide personnel, facilities and other resources for emergency response efforts.

It also enables expedited action to clear debris, secure critical infrastructure and prepare for, respond to and recover from potential storm impacts.

“Tropical Storm Lala poses a serious threat to our state, particularly Hawaii Island — and we are taking action now to ensure resources are available where they are needed,” Green said in a statement. “Our state and county emergency teams are coordinating closely with federal partners. I urge everyone to secure their homes, gather essential supplies, review their family emergency plans and follow updates from trusted official sources. Please take this storm seriously and look out for one another.”

Hawaii County will be opening shelters as of 6 p.m. today at the following locations.

Bring your own food, water and any necessary medicine: Ikuo Hisaoka Gymnasium in Kapa’au; Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria; Kahilu Theater in Waimea; Honoka’a Gym; Laupahoehoe Public Charter School Band Room; Waiakea High School Gym in Hilo; Kea’au Armory; Pahoa Neighborhood Facility; Robert N. Herkes Gym in Pahala; Na’alehu Elementary School Gym; Kealakehe High School Gym; Yano Hall in Captain Cook.

The state Department of Education announced Thursday that based on current weather conditions and forecasts, all DOE public schools on Hawaii Island will maintain normal school-day operations today.

In-person instruction will continue as scheduled. School principals may cancel select after-school activities this afternoon.

DOE offices on Hawaii Island will maintain normal business hours.

From 5:30 p.m. today, all Hawaii Island public school campuses and offices will close through Sunday. All previously scheduled school-related events and activities during the closure period will be canceled or postponed.

Emergency management officials have advised that decisions regarding potential school closures on other islands be made as conditions and forecasts become clearer.

Hawaii Island public schools and offices are expected to resume normal school-day operations on Monday.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is planning park-wide closures ahead of the storm. Visitors should check the park website for alerts, www.nps.gov/havo.

Forecasters said the rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep-terrain areas.

Lala is expected to generated large swells and dangerous surf across the east-facing shores of the state today, spreading westward and growing larger into the weekend.

“This prolonged period of heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion,” according to the forecast.

Dangerous storm surge and tides will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded, according to forecasters. Water could reach 1 to 3 feet high if peak surge happens at the time of high tide.

“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves,” according to the forecast. “Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.”