Emergency officials warn that Moke is likely to bring additional heavy rainfall and localized flooding to parts of Hawaiʻi Island this weekend while recovery from Hurricane Lala is ongoing.
Tropical Depression Two-C is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Moke and pass south of the Big Island this weekend, bringing heavy rain.
State officials have hotel and donated housing options available and more than 240 National Guard personnel stand ready for activation.
Residents in flood-prone or recently damaged areas should plan exit routes now and consider relocation to safer towns or temporary housing.
Tropical Depression Two-C, located several hundred miles southeast of Hilo as of Thursday evening, is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Moke and move west-northwest toward the main Hawaiian Islands. Forecasters expect the system to turn gradually west with its center passing south of the Big Island starting Saturday night or Sunday morning and affecting the rest of the island chain early next week.
At roughly 5 p.m. Thursday the Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported Two-C had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, was centered about 815 miles southeast of Hilo, and was moving west-northwest at about 14 mph. Forecasters expected the disturbance to reach tropical-storm strength (sustained winds of at least 39 mph) and to produce gustier conditions by Saturday and Sunday, with winds near 60 mph at peak in the local forecast window.
Rain projections are the primary concern. The CPHC forecast called for as much as 15 inches in some parts of the Big Island, with the heaviest totals just west of Hilo. South Point—already hard-hit by Hurricane Lala—was forecast to receive roughly 2 to 4 inches. Kona and other islands were expected to see mostly 1 to 2 inches, with isolated areas receiving up to 5 inches.
Gov. Josh Green said the state is coordinating with nonprofit and private partners to provide temporary housing, including hotel rooms and donated Airbnbs. He encouraged residents who need shelter to contact Vibrant Hawaii, a Hilo-based nonprofit leading recovery work on the island.
Bottom line: even a weaker tropical storm can produce dangerous rainfall on already saturated ground. Prepare now and have a plan to move to higher ground or safer shelter if local authorities advise it.
Forecasters projected Moke to deposit as much as 10 inches of rain across the Big Island
As the Big Island continues to reel from the devastation wrought over the weekend by Hurricane Lala, another potential threat looms to the southeast of Hawaii. The post Another storm is brewing southeast of the Big Isle appeared first on West Hawaii Today .
More than a foot of rain could fall across Big Island of Hawaii, according to NOAA.
Hawaii’s Big Island is preparing for another round of flooding rain, roughly a week after Storm Lala washed out roads and damaged parts of the electrical grid. Another five to 10 inches of rain are expected through the weekend, with …
Another potential storm raises concerns about more flooding on Hawaii Island. Tropical cyclone likely to develop soon southeast of Hawaii. KHON2. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. Tropical Storm Outlook: At 500 AM HST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Two-C was located near latitude 11.9 North, longitude 14
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