Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii’s Big Island on Saturday without making landfall, though it lashed the region with fierce winds and heavy downpours that flooded roadways and transformed rivers into raging torrents. The weather system is expected to weaken gradually as it moves onward.

Fears that the island could suffer its first direct hurricane hit in 155 years eased when the eye of the storm passed clear of the island’s southern tip.

"Landfall is not expected at this point," said National Weather Service meteorologist Joseph Clark.

Nevertheless, dangerous conditions are set to persist into the overnight hours, according to the National Hurricane Center, which warned that hurricane-force winds will continue, with peak gusts most likely across areas of higher terrain.

The agency noted that heavy rainfall extending into Sunday could produce flooding and mudslides, while powerful waves pound the coastline.

Tropical storm warnings remain in effect across the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau as the system tracks west. The Big Island is the state's largest, with a population of approximately 210,000.

On the ground, relentless rain blowing nearly sideways generated fast-moving runoff that rapidly swelled local waterways. Howling winds whipped through the tops of palm trees while continuous whitecap surf slammed ashore.

Although the prospect of a direct strike has receded, the storm's impact continues to be felt across the Hawaiian islands, with coastal pounding, high-elevation wind gusts, and flood risks remaining key concerns into Sunday as the system gradually loses intensity.

Gov. Josh Green said at least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island, while 19 roofs were lost and 190 flights were postponed. “You definitely want to be home, do not be out on the roads,” he said.

Forecasters said higher elevations on the island, dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, could get as much as 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rain. That could cause life-threatening mudslides in a mountainous area where people live off the grid in improvised housing.

Earlier the governor called it an “enormous storm,” capable of destructive flooding and even the possibility of wildfires kicked up by strong winds across the island chain.

Tens of thousands of homes were without power.

Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, said he planned to “hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don’t go out” at a care home just outside Hilo. He said gas stations were busy as people sought fuel for chain saws and vehicles.

“I think stocking up is part of life over here. ... You learn to be self-reliant,” Camara said.

Mike Caputo, who lives in Keaau, near the Big Island's east coast, said his power generator was ready and a 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) home water tank was full. He said the main concern was flash flooding and fallen trees, especially albizia, a common tree.

“They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large,” said Caputo, 50, a local fire captain. “They can make roads impassable."

Lala intensified from a tropical storm into a hurricane early Saturday as its maximum sustained winds increased to 75 mph (120 kph), the hurricane center reported, making it a Category 1 hurricane. The Big Island is Hawaii’s largest and has a population of about 210,000.

A hurricane last made landfall on the islands in 1992, when Hurricane Iniki — a Category 4 storm — lashed Kauai.

“It did $3 billion worth of damage. It destroyed thousands of homes, and it did kill six people,” said Green, the governor. “We just can never know if a storm is going to turn.”

The Big Island was last hit directly in 1871, when a Category 3 hurricane hit the northeast corner, according to research by a University of Hawaii atmospheric scientist.

On Saturday, shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures, rather than structures that might collapse.

Christine Matsuda, who lives in Waimea, on the northern side of the island, said “big gusts every few minutes rattle the whole house.”

“We're finding unexpected leaks in places that don't see water under normal conditions,” Matsuda said.

The hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 centimeters) of total rainfall across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) across the island chain.

Many Hawaii residents are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods in March.