Tropical Storm Moke brings heavy rain to hurricane-damaged Hawaii

Tropical Storm Moke is swirling past Hawaii, bringing significant rainfall to communities on the Big Island that are still recovering from Hurricane Lala. The storm's proximity means heavy downpours are expected, exacerbating the damage caused by the previous hurricane, which downed trees, caused mudslides, and damaged infrastructure.

The National Hurricane Center reported Moke's center was about 310 miles south of Hilo on Sunday morning, with sustained winds near 45 mph. Forecasters anticipate the storm could drop as much as 10 inches of rain across the Big Island, with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 15 inches. This rainfall poses a risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain and areas already impacted by Hurricane Lala.

Eastern Maui could see up to 6 inches of rain, while other islands might receive a smaller amount. The Big Island is expected to bear the brunt of Moke's weather, similar to Hurricane Lala, as the storm moves westward south of the island chain. The northeast coast of the Big Island had already recorded 43.54 inches of rain from Lala. More than 6,700 customers, primarily on the Big Island, remained without power on Sunday.

Governor Josh Green and other officials had urged residents to prepare by stocking up on essential supplies. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Iselle formed separately in the eastern Pacific Ocean off Mexico's coast. Iselle, with winds of 45 mph, is moving west-northwest and could potentially become a hurricane in the next day or two, generating strong ocean swells along Baja California's western coast.