Tropical Storm Moke Bears Down on Hawaii as Big Island Recovers From Lala
Tropical Storm Moke is advancing toward Hawaii, threatening the Big Island with heavy rain and strong winds as it recovers from Hurricane Lala.
Tropical Storm Moke is moving toward Hawaii, threatening to bring more heavy rain and strong winds to the Big Island, which is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Lala.
As of 5 a.m. Saturday, the storm was located about 470 miles southeast of Hilo, moving west-northwest at 12 mph. Maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The Big Island is expected to bear the brunt of Moke's effects as it passes south of the island late Saturday into early Sunday. The storm is then forecast to continue westward near the islands through early Tuesday.
Meteorologist Casey Oswant of the National Weather Service in Honolulu said impacts will likely be more limited than those from Lala, but the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island should still see significant effects.
Lala downed trees, swept buildings off their foundations, damaged roads and bridges, and left roads covered in mud and rocks. One storm-related death was reported.
Rainfall predictions for the southeast and windward sides of the Big Island are 5 to 10 inches, with up to 15 inches possible in isolated areas. Elsewhere in the island chain, 1 to 2 inches are expected, though parts of east Maui could see up to 4 inches.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect early Saturday, but officials urged residents to monitor the storm closely. The rainfall could cause dangerous rip currents, life-threatening flooding, and mudslides, especially in steep areas and where the ground remains saturated.
The northeast coast of the Big Island saw the heaviest rainfall from Lala, at 43.54 inches. About 9,000 customers on the island remained without power Saturday.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and other state officials held a news conference ahead of Moke, urging people to restock food, medicine, and other essentials.
Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a teacher in Keaau on the east side of the Big Island, said there is "definitely tension in the air" at the thought of more rain in communities where floodwaters turned streets into rivers.