Tropical Storm Moke is tracking south of Hawaii, bringing up to 15 inches of rain and dangerous flooding risks to the state. The system arrives just one week after Hurricane Lala battered the islands, prompting state officials to request federal assistance and coordinate storm recovery efforts.
Hawaii is bracing for another round of severe weather as Tropical Storm Moke approaches the island chain. Packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, the storm was moving west at 15 mph on Sunday evening, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters expect the storm’s center to pass south of the Big Island before tracking well south of the smaller islands early in the week. Tropical storm warnings were in place through Sunday night for waters surrounding Hawaii, although no coastal warnings or watches were in effect. A flash flood watch was issued for parts of the Big Island, as forecasters warned of excessive rainfall through Monday afternoon.
Rainfall Totals and Flooding Threats on the Big Island and Maui
Saturated soils from last weekend’s storm make even moderate rainfall a significant hazard. The rainfall totals from Moke won’t be as high, but will still be dangerous, especially in conjunction with the already saturated ground. Rainfall totals across the hard-hit Big Island will span 5 to 10 inches with up to 15 inches in some locations, according to the hurricane center. Eastern Maui, the second-largest of the islands, will receive 3 to 6 inches on average. The rest of the islands could see 1 to 2 inches of rain.
Flooding and mudslides on the Big Island could be life-threatening, especially in steep terrain and over areas recently affected by Lala, said CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan. There were also concerns about potential flooding on the island of Maui. The National Hurricane Center stated that this rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides for the windward and southeast Big Island, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and Governor Josh Green Address Storm Fatigue
Emergency response teams face the challenge of managing dual weather events while communities attempt to dry out. The islands, especially the Big Island, were hit very hard by Hurricane Lala just last weekend. A hurricane hasn’t made direct landfall in the state since Iniki in 1992, but the eye of the then-Category 1 Hurricane Lala passed just 30 miles off the Big Island’s coast, bringing wind gusts over 80 mph and torrential rain, with some areas seeing more than 3 feet. Kapalua, located in Maui County, was hit with 48 inches of rain over the weekend.
“Recent impacts from Tropical Storm Lala mean that even light to moderate rain and wind could trigger flooding, debris, downed trees, roadway issues and power outages.”
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen
County departments have been preparing for Tropical Storm Moke, and we're asking our community to do the same, Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement. “We know many in our community are experiencing storm fatigue and still recovering from last weekend’s weather system, so mahalo for continuing to look out for one another and staying prepared — especially because we are up against an above-average hurricane season.”
Emergency Response Activation and El Niño Climate Factors
Hawaii activated its joint information center on Saturday, just days after deactivating its center for Lala. The information center is responsible for coordinating updates for the public from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency also said Saturday that Hawaii Gov. Josh Green had submitted a request with the White House asking President Trump to issue an emergency declaration for both Lala and Moke.
“Our teams are working on two fronts: helping communities recover from Lala while preparing for Moke,”
Photo: silive.com
Gov. Josh Green
“We have submitted our request for federal assistance to bring additional resources to Hawaii.”
Gov. Josh Green
The islands are paying a price from an El Niño climate pattern, via warming waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Warm ocean waters are the essential fuel for tropical cyclone development, which makes this El Niño phase perfect conditions for an increased hurricane season in the region. Because it reduces vertical wind shear, meaning changes in the direction of winds at higher levels of the atmosphere, an El Niño climate pattern allows for tropical systems that develop in the region to avoid getting “blown over” and falling apart. Jonathan Vigliotti and Nikki Nolan contributed to this report.
HAWAII WEATHER: Tropical Storm Moke set to bring heavy rain and gusty trades to the islands
