Tropical Storm Moke is beginning its trek south of the Hawaiian Islands this morning, bringing potentially life-threatening heavy rain to the Big Island, where the ground is still saturated from last weekend’s devastating Hurricane Lala.
As of 5 a.m., Moke was 310 miles south of Hilo with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and moving west at 15 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 90 miles from the center.
Moke is much weaker and farther south than Lala, which was a Category 1 hurricane on Aug. 15 as it slowly passed just off South Point. Still, the tropical storm is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain across Hawaii Island today, with some windward and southeast areas potentially getting 15 inches.
The island is under a flood watch through Monday afternoon, and the National Weather Service says: “These rainfall amounts may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides on the windward and southeast Big Island, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala. It will not take a significant amount of rain to cause flash flooding due to saturated ground from recent heavy rain.”
Eastern Maui may receive 3 to 6 inches of rain, and the rest of the state may see 1 to 2 inches as Moke passes even farther south of the main islands through Monday, forecasters said.
A wind advisory is in effect through 6 p.m. today for portions of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island, where the strongest sustained winds will occur over mountain ridges, gaps and where winds blow downslope from higher terrain, according to NWS forecasters. “Winds this strong can tear off shingles, knock down tree branches, blow away tents and awnings, and make it difficult to steer, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles,” they said.
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The passing tropical storm is also expected to bring elevated surf to some east and south shores, but no surf advisories have been issued as of this morning.
A weakening Moke is expected to be passing far south of Oahu late tonight, and by late Monday, it will be far southwest of Kauai.
“The storm is expected to move through a challenging environment during the next several days, with plentiful mid-level dry air and moderate shear in its path,” CPHC forecasters said. “These conditions will likely overcome the warm sea-surface temperatures, and Moke should struggle to produce sustained deep convection in this regime.”
A small craft advisory is in effect for Hawaiian waters through this evening, and a tropical storm warning is in effect through Thursday for the Hawaiian offshore waters beyond 40 nautical miles and extending to 240 nautical miles, including the portion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument east of French Frigate Shoals.
Although Moke is not packing the same punch as Lala, county and state officials are not taking any chances. Hawaii County preparations included six open emergency shelters Saturday night in Naalehu, Pahala, Pahoa, Keaau, Hilo and Captain Cook.
Gov. Josh Green’s office said Saturday that state agencies remain ready to respond to Moke and support county emergency response efforts.
“Our teams are working on two fronts: helping communities recover from Lala while preparing for Moke,” Green said in a news release. “We have submitted our request for federal assistance to bring additional resources to Hawaii. State and county teams are ready to respond, and I urge everyone to remain alert, follow official updates, and avoid unnecessary risks as the storm passes.”
Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center in Miami is watching several weather disturbances in the eastern Pacific Ocean, south of Baja California, including Tropical Storm Iselle. The newly formed cyclone is expected to grow into a weak hurricane far from land within two days before weakening back to a weak tropical storm, still far from the Central Pacific, according to the CPHC.
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