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Moke’s Rain Threat
Tropical Storm Moke was expected to pass south of the Hawaiian islands and bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the Big Island through the weekend into early next week, with the system located about 755 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.
“The system is currently located about 755 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.”
ABC News said Moke had winds of 45 mph and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph, and it forecast rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with maximum amounts of 15 inches across the Big Island.
The CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan warned that flooding and mudslides could be life-threatening, especially in steep terrain and over areas recently affected by Lala.
CBS News also reported that a flash flood watch was issued for parts of the Big Island through Monday afternoon, as forecasters warned of excessive rainfall.
In the same context of recovery from Hurricane Lala, ABC News said thousands on the Big Island were still without power.
Officials, Forecasts, Warnings
As Moke approached, the National Hurricane Center forecast the storm would pass south of the Big Island on Sunday and then well south of the smaller Hawaiian islands early next week, with forecasters saying it would likely start to weaken Sunday.
CBS News said the National Hurricane Center warned that life-threatening flooding and mudslides could occur for the windward and southeast Big Island, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala.
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."
NPR quoted the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center advisory warning that "This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides for the windward and southeast Big Island".
NPR added that up to 15 inches of rain could fall across Big Island while 3 to 6 inches were expected for eastern Maui, as the center said the storm was not expected to make landfall.
After Lala, What’s at Risk
The threat from Moke arrived less than a week after Hurricane Lala, which ABC News said moved south of the Big Island on Sunday as a Category 1 hurricane and damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes.
“damaging or destroying more than 100 homes”
ABC News reported that Lala dumped more than a foot of rain over parts of the state, with the highest elevations getting more than 40 inches, and it said thousands on the Big Island were still without power.
NPR said Hurricane Lala, now downgraded to a tropical storm, did not make landfall either but dropped more than 30 inches of rain on some parts of Hawaii, triggering floods and mudslides that destroyed roads and bridges.
NPR also reported that more than 8,000 people were still without power as of Saturday morning, and that full restoration of the electricity supply was not expected until Sept. 8 according to Hawaiian Electric.
In the same recovery-and-response frame, NPR said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed a request asking the White House to declare an emergency in the wake of Hurricane Lala, while warning that Moke could bring additional flooding and gusty winds.