Hawaii is bracing for Tropical Storm Moke, which is set to bring heavy rain and winds just one week after the state was hit by Hurricane Lala.
Communities across the Hawaiian archipelago are bracing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Moke, which is currently tracking toward the islands. This latest weather event arrives only a week after the region was struck lingering power outages. As the new system approaches, local officials and residents are working to secure properties and prepare for potential flooding and high winds.
As of late Saturday morning, the storm was positioned approximately 684 kilometers, or 425 miles, south of Hilo on the eastern coast of Hawaii Island. Moving at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour, the system is projected to pass south of the largest island in the archipelago overnight and into the following morning. While current models suggest the storm will avoid a direct hit, the state remains on high alert due to the vulnerability of infrastructure still being repaired from the previous storm.
The urgency of the current preparations is heightened er 1,000 millimeters of rain in specific locations, causing rivers to overflow and creating widespread flooding. The high winds associated with that event caused extensive damage to electrical infrastructure, impacting nearly 130,000 utility customers across the island and resulting in at least one fatality.
Governor Josh Green has been vocal about the state's readiness, acknowledging the compounding stress that consecutive storms place on residents and emergency responders. Although power restoration efforts have been largely successful, some remote areas remain without electricity. State officials are proactively pre-positioning equipment and personnel to address potential new outages or emergency needs that may arise as Moke passes through the region.
Meteorologists from the United States National Weather Service expect that while Moke will certainly impact the windward and southeast regions of the Big Island, the intensity is anticipated to be less severe than that of Hurricane Lala. The current trajectory suggests that the storm will continue on a westward path near the islands through early Tuesday, spreading precipitation across the chain.
Current projections indicate that the southeast and windward sides of Hawaii Island could receive between 130 and 250 millimeters of rainfall over the next 48 hours. In specific, isolated areas, rainfall totals could reach as high as 380 millimeters. Meanwhile, eastern Maui is expected to see between 76 and 150 millimeters of rain, with lighter accumulation predicted for the remainder of the island group.
To ensure public safety, Governor Green has authorized the use of 100 hotel rooms to accommodate individuals who may lack adequate shelter or access to essential services during the storm. This measure serves as a critical safety net for those in vulnerable locations who might be cut off tor local emergency broadcasts for real-time updates.