Tropical Storm Moke is tracking south of Hawaii with maximum sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph, threatening the Big Island and Maui with up to 15 inches of rain. The system arrives as emergency teams continue recovery efforts following Hurricane Lala.
Storm Path and Rainfall Projections as Moke Skirts the Islands
Tropical Storm Moke is moving west at 12 to 15 mph, with its center passing south of the Big Island on Sunday and then well south of the smaller Hawaiian islands early next week. Forecasters at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center expect the system to begin weakening as it moves past the island chain. Tropical storm warnings were in place through Sunday night for waters surrounding Hawaii, although no coastal warnings or watches were in effect, and a flash flood watch was issued for parts of the Big Island as forecasters warned of excessive rainfall through Monday afternoon.
While the storm’s core remains offshore, rainfall totals across the hard-hit Big Island are forecast to span 5 to 10 inches, with isolated amounts reaching up to 15 inches. Eastern Maui, the second-largest of the islands, is projected to receive 3 to 6 inches of rain on average, while the rest of the islands could see 1 to 2 inches.
Compound Hazards Follow Hurricane Lala Recovery
The incoming weather arrives after Hurricane Lala passed just 30 miles off the Big Island’s coast as a Category 1 storm. That system delivered wind gusts over 80 mph and torrential downpours, with some areas seeing more than 3 feet of rain, while Kapalua, located in Maui County, was hit with 48 inches of rain over the weekend. A hurricane hasn’t made direct landfall in the state since Iniki in 1992.
Because soils remain saturated from Lala, officials warn that even reduced rainfall totals from Moke carry severe risks. The National Hurricane Center cautioned that the precipitation could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides for the windward and southeast Big Island, especially in steep terrain and over areas recently affected by Lala, with potential flooding also raising concerns on the island of Maui.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, via CBS News
Recent impacts from Tropical Storm Lala mean that even light to moderate rain and wind could trigger flooding, debris, downed trees, roadway issues and power outages,
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement. County departments have been preparing for Tropical Storm Moke, and we're asking our community to do the same.
We know many in our community are experiencing storm fatigue and still recovering from last weekend's weather system, so mahalo for continuing to look out for one another and staying prepared — especially because we are up against an above-average hurricane season, Bissen added
State and Federal Response Efforts Underway
In response to the back-to-back weather systems, Hawaii activated its joint information center on Saturday, just days after deactivating its center for Lala. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency also said Saturday that Hawaii Gov. Josh Green had submitted a request with the White House asking President Trump to issue an emergency declaration for both Lala and Moke.
Gov. Josh Green
Our teams are working on two fronts: helping communities recover from Lala while preparing for Moke,
Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. We have submitted our request for federal assistance to bring additional resources to Hawaii.
Meteorologists trace the heightened tropical activity to an El Niño climate pattern, which is driving warming waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Warm ocean waters are the essential fuel for tropical cyclone development, making this El Niño phase ideal for an increased hurricane season in the region. By reducing vertical wind shear—meaning changes in the direction of winds at higher levels of the atmosphere—the El Niño climate pattern allows tropical systems that develop in the region to avoid getting “blown over” and falling apart.
