雅思阅读 092: Hurricane Lala — How El Niño Fuelled a Rare Hawaiian Storm

Adapted from "How Hurricane Lala was juiced by El Niño" by Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 17 August 2026.

Reading Passage

Hawaii reeled from a near-direct hit as Hurricane Lala passed just south of the Big Island as a Category 1 storm, bringing winds of about 120 kilometres per hour, heavy rain and flooding. At least one person died, nearly 200 flights were cancelled, and tens of thousands lost power.

Hawaii is no stranger to hurricanes, but direct landfalls are rare. The islands sit in the middle of the vast Pacific, so statistically most storms miss them. Relatively cool waters and strong, steady trade winds also help keep hurricanes away. No hurricane had directly hit the state since Iniki in 1992.

This year is a strong El Niño year, and that changes everything. An El Niño is defined by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific. Where Lala formed and grew, the water was warmer than normal — providing what forecasters call "more juice" for the storm.

El Niño also reduces vertical wind shear in the eastern Pacific. Wind shear is the change in wind speed or direction with height; high shear tears storms apart. Less shear means storms can organise and strengthen more easily.

The opposite happens in the Atlantic Ocean. During El Niño, winds about 12 kilometres above the Atlantic become much stronger. They simply rip the tops off developing storms. As a result, the Atlantic hurricane season is typically quieter in El Niño years. NOAA has predicted a below-normal Atlantic season, with seven to 13 named storms and no more than two major hurricanes.

But the central and eastern Pacific — including Hawaii — becomes more active. In El Niño years, it is not uncommon for multiple cyclones to threaten the islands.

"Unfortunately, I know they just had a lot of damage from Lala," says meteorologist Matthew Rosencrans, "but it looks like it's still going to be an active period."

Officials urge residents to prepare: secure homes, gather water and food, keep batteries on hand for power cuts, and place generators outside away from doors and windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Lala episode is a reminder that climate patterns can shift risk from one ocean basin to another — and that even islands long considered safe can face storms when the Pacific turns warm.

Questions 1–5

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. What category was Hurricane Lala when it passed Hawaii?

   • A. Category 1
   • B. Category 2
   • C. Category 3
   • D. Category 4

2. When was the last hurricane to directly hit Hawaii before Lala?

   • A. 1992
   • B. 2005
   • C. 2014
   • D. 2022

3. El Niño is characterised by

   • A. unusually cool waters in the eastern Pacific.
   • B. unusually warm waters in the eastern Pacific.
   • C. high wind shear in the eastern Pacific.
   • D. fewer storms worldwide.

4. How does El Niño affect the Atlantic hurricane season?

   • A. It makes it more active.
   • B. It makes it less active.
   • C. It has no effect.
   • D. It moves storms to the Pacific.

5. NOAA predicted how many named storms in the Atlantic this season?

   • A. 3 to 7
   • B. 7 to 13
   • C. 13 to 20
   • D. 20 to 25

Questions 6–10

Do the following statements agree with the information?

Write:

• TRUE
• FALSE
• NOT GIVEN

6. Lala caused at least one death in Hawaii.
7. Cooler waters and trade winds normally help protect Hawaii from hurricanes.
8. Higher wind shear helps hurricanes grow stronger.
9. Generators should be placed indoors during power outages.
10. El Niño years typically bring multiple cyclone threats to Hawaii.

Questions 11–13

Complete the summary. Choose ONE WORD ONLY.

Warm ocean 11 and reduced wind 12 combine to fuel hurricanes during El Niño. Meanwhile, strong high-altitude winds over the Atlantic 13 developing storms apart.

Answers

1. A — "as a Category 1 hurricane."
2. A — "no hurricane has directly hit the state since Hurricane Iniki in 1992."
3. B — "abnormally warm ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific."
4. B — "the Atlantic hurricane season tends to be less active."
5. B — "between seven and 13 named storms."
6. TRUE — "At least one person has died."
7. TRUE — "relatively cooler waters and strong, consistent trade winds… help deter hurricanes."
8. FALSE — High shear "tears the top off storms."
9. FALSE — Generators should be placed outside, away from doors and windows.
10. TRUE — "it's not uncommon for multiple cyclones to threaten the islands."
11. temperatures
12. shear
13. tear

Key Vocabulary