Tropical Storm Moke to pass south of Hawaii, bringing heavy rain to the Big Island

Tropical Storm Moke, a system that recently emerged from Hurricane Lala's aftermath, is poised to skirt south of Hawaii, forecasters say. Currently situated approximately 755 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, the storm is generating winds of 45 mph as it drifts west-northwest at a rate of 12 mph. Over the weekend and into early next week, Moke is expected to glide south of the Hawaiian islands.

Rainfall and gusty winds are anticipated to make landfall on the Big Island Saturday night, ushering in heavy precipitation that will persist until the start of next week. Rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches are predicted, with peak amounts of 15 inches expected across the Big Island. The storm has already set foot on the Big Island, prompting rain to spread across the area and potentially lingering through Monday.

While rain totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected across the rest of the Hawaiian islands, with maximum amounts of 5 inches, the moisture could exacerbate flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain and regions impacted by Hurricane Lala.

Hurricane Lala, which struck the Big Island as a Category 1 hurricane last Sunday, inflicted damage to over 100 homes and severed communication in some communities. The storm unleashed more than a foot of rain in certain areas, with elevated elevations receiving over 40 inches. Power outages have affected thousands on the Big Island.