Tropical Storm Moke was predicted to pass south of the Hawiian Islands on Saturday but still be potent enough to cause heavy rains and flooding. Image courtesy National Hurricane Center
Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Hawaii on Saturday was preparing for a close encounter with Tropical Storm Moke, which was expected to bring heavy rain, life-threatening flooding and mudslides to the "Big Island."
As of 7 p.m. Saturday Eastern time, Moke was located about 425 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and continuing to move to the west-northwest at about 11.5 miles per hour.
On that trajectory its center was expected to pass well south of the Hawaiian Islands, but flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall was still deemed likely for windward and southeast Big Island, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with maximum amounts of 15 inches were expected on Hawaii Island even as the state is still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which left a trail of catastrophic flooding and debris flows across the state last weekend.
