Tropical Storm Moke Tracker Map: ‘Life-Threatening’ Warning for Hawaii
The islands have already been battered by Hurricane Lala.
Hawaii is bracing for potentially life-threatening flooding and damage as Tropical Storm Moke makes landfall on Sunday, just days after the islands were battered by Tropical Storm Lala, which caused extensive damage. The National Hurricane Center has forecast winds of 45 mph for the storm's center, with the strongest winds expected to pass south of the islands.
However, gusty winds and heavy rainfall are still expected, with up to 15 inches of rain forecast for the Big Island. The rainfall could trigger mudslides, particularly in steep terrain and areas affected by Lala. County officials have been preparing for Moke, asking residents to do the same. Lala, the second named storm of the year, brought over 3.5 feet of rainfall to the Big Island, damaging or washing away about 100 homes, six bridges, and leaving over 100,000 without power.
The islands had also been threatened by Hurricane Fausto in July, but it weakened and headed north. Hawaii's protection from tropical cyclones is usually due to cool sea-surface temperatures and strong vertical wind shear, but an extended El Niño pattern has led to warmer ocean waters and more active storm development.
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