Today’s Sunday lighter lesson uses a BBC News weather story on Hurricane Lala, a rare storm threatening Hawaii with heavy rain, flooding, dangerous surf, and possible evacuations.
Title: Hawaii braces for potential first direct hit by a hurricane in 34 years
Source: BBC News
Published: August 15, 2026
Original article: BBC News article link
BBC News reports that Hawaii is preparing for Hurricane Lala, which could become the state’s first direct hurricane hit since 1992. Officials warned residents about strong winds, heavy rain, floods, mudslides, and dangerous surf as the storm moved close to Big Island.
The article says the storm could bring severe rainfall, disrupt flights, knock out electricity, and force evacuations in vulnerable areas. It also places the event in a wider weather context, noting recent ocean heat records and climate-monitoring data from the Pacific.
BBC News 報導，夏威夷正為颶風 Lala 做準備；這可能成為該州自 1992 年以來首次遭颶風直接襲擊。官員警告居民注意強風、豪雨、洪水、土石流和危險海浪，因為風暴正接近大島。
文章指出，這場風暴可能帶來嚴重降雨、影響航班、造成停電，並迫使高風險地區撤離。報導也把事件放在更廣的天氣背景中，提到近期海洋高溫紀錄，以及太平洋地區的氣候監測資料。
preparing yourself for something difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous that may happen soon.
In article: “Hawaii is bracing for what could be its first direct hit from a hurricane since 1992, as category one storm Lala churns off its coast.”
準備迎接、嚴陣以待；指面對可能發生的困難或危險時先做好心理或實際準備。
a sudden powerful increase or rise, especially in water, electricity, people, or activity.
In article: “In a worst-case scenario, it could dump up to 25in (63cm) of rain on Big Island and produce a 3ft storm surge.”
激增、暴漲；在天氣報導中常指海水因風暴而突然升高。
the moment when a storm or hurricane reaches land after moving over water.
In article: “The storm is expected to either make landfall or pass close to the southern tip of Big Island on Saturday, before continuing west.”
登陸；指颱風、颶風等風暴從海上移動到陸地的時刻。
organised movements of people away from a dangerous place to somewhere safer.
In article: “Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues,” the NWS said, adding that rivers and tributaries “may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places”.
疏散、撤離行動；指為了安全，把人們從危險地區移到安全地點。
smaller rivers or streams that flow into a larger river; a formal geography and environmental-risk word.
In article: “Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues,” the NWS said, adding that rivers and tributaries “may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places”.
支流；流入較大河流的小河或溪流，常見於地理、洪水與環境風險描述。