Tropical Storm Moke was swirling past Hawaii on Sunday, threatening to dump heavy rain on communities already struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Lala. The storm's proximity to the islands comes just days after Hurricane Lala flooded communities, triggered mudslides, and damaged infrastructure on the Big Island.
Moke's center was located about 320 miles south-southwest of Hilo, with sustained winds around 40 mph. Forecasters anticipated Moke would deliver as much as 10 inches of rain across the Big Island, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 15 inches. This rainfall could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly on the windward and southeast slopes and in areas already affected by Lala. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda advised residents to shelter in place and stay off the roads, with shelters opened as a precaution.
While the Big Island was expected to experience the brunt of Moke's rainfall and winds, eastern Maui could see up to 6 inches, and other islands might receive one to two inches. The storm was forecast to pass south of the Big Island and the smaller Hawaiian Islands as it moved westward.
Hurricane Lala, which struck the islands last week, resulted in two reported deaths and left more than 6,500 customers on the Big Island without power as of Sunday. The northeast coast of the Big Island had recorded 43.54 inches of rainfall from Lala.
In preparation for Moke, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green urged residents to restock essential supplies. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Iselle formed in the eastern Pacific, gaining strength far from Mexico's coast, with sustained winds of 50 mph. Iselle was moving northwest and was predicted to potentially become a hurricane within a day or two, generating strong ocean swells along Baja California's western coastline.