Tropical Storm Moke is making its closest approach to Hawaii as the state braces for its second tropical threat in less than a week after deadly Hurricane Lala tore through parts of the islands.
Rainfall is the most dangerous threat from this storm — and it’s falling on the same places that flooded last weekend. This means it takes far less rainfall to trigger “life-threatening flooding and mudslides,” the National Hurricane Center warned.
A flood watch remains in effect for the Big Island through Monday afternoon.
Five to 10 inches of rain are expected on the Big Island, with up to 15 inches possible on the central and eastern slopes. Maui is forecast to see 4 to 6 inches, while the forecast is less certain for the other islands, with generally lower totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected and isolated amounts up to 4 inches or more possible.
Rainfall will ramp up on the Big Island and Maui by Sunday afternoon, spreading to the other islands later Sunday night into Monday.
