Hawaii is facing another tropical threat just days after Hurricane Lala battered parts of the islands.
Tropical Storm Moke formed in the Pacific on Friday and is expected to pass south of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend and early next week. The storm is forecast to remain a tropical storm, with maximum winds around 45 mph and gradual weakening expected later in the forecast period.
The storm will still bring periods of heavy rain and gusty winds to portions of Hawaii. The Big Island is expected to see the greatest impacts, particularly southeastern and windward areas that were hit hard by Lala just last weekend.
Rainfall could become especially problematic because the ground remains saturated following Lala. Some areas of the Big Island could receive several inches of rain, with locally higher totals possible. Eastern Maui and other islands could also see periods of heavy rain as moisture from Moke spreads northward. The timing is particularly challenging for Hawaii, where crews and residents are still clearing debris, restoring power and repairing damage from Hurricane Lala. Lala produced widespread flooding, damaging winds and major power outages, with some areas of the Big Island receiving more than 40 inches of rain.
