Tropical Storm Moke passed south of Hawaii’s Big Island on Sunday, threatening communities still recovering from Hurricane Lala with renewed flooding, mudslides and rainfall totals exceeding a foot in some locations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Tropical Storm Moke brought a new flood threat to Hawaii on Sunday as heavy rain began affecting the Big Island only days after Hurricane Lala damaged infrastructure and left communities dealing with saturated ground.
Moke moved south of the Big Island while forecasters warned that the storm could produce more than 12 inches of rain in some areas, creating conditions for additional flooding and mudslides before recovery from Lala is complete.
The National Weather Service forecast widespread rainfall across the island, with the greatest accumulations expected in windward and southeastern areas.
Some isolated locations could receive considerably higher rainfall totals, increasing the danger of flash flooding as water falls on terrain already saturated by the previous storm.
The timing of Moke is adding to concerns because communities in parts of the Big Island are still repairing damage caused by Hurricane Lala, which passed through the area only days earlier.
Infrastructure damaged during Lala could be particularly vulnerable to another period of intense rainfall, while already saturated soil increases the potential for runoff and slope failures.
Forecasters warned residents that the latest storm could therefore produce dangerous conditions even in areas where rainfall totals might ordinarily be manageable.
With Moke remaining south of the island, the primary threat Sunday was heavy precipitation rather than a direct landfall, but the storm’s moisture was expected to affect a broad portion of the Big Island.
Officials were particularly concerned about flash flooding and mudslides in locations receiving the heaviest bands of rain as Hawaii faced its second significant tropical weather threat in a matter of days.
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