Tropical Storm Moke To Dump Up To 15 Inches Of Rain On Hawaii
Tropical Storm Moke threatened to dump up to 15 inches of rain on Hawaii on Saturday, August 22, 2026, raising flood and mudslide risks across the Big Island.[1]
As of midday Saturday, Moke had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was expected to strengthen.[1] The National Hurricane Center forecast 5 to 10 inches across the Big Island, with isolated totals up to 15 inches, and 1 to 2 inches on eastern Maui, with localized amounts up to 4 inches.[1] The agency warned the rain could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides on the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island, especially in steep terrain and areas recently hit by Hurricane Lala.[1] Hawaii activated its joint information center to coordinate public updates from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.[1]
Hurricane Lala's eye passed about 30 miles off the Big Island the prior weekend, producing gusts over 80 mph and more than 3 feet of rain in some locations.[1] That storm left soils saturated, including a reported 48 inches at Kapalua in Maui County, increasing runoff and mudslide risk ahead of Moke.[1] Meteorologists say El Nino-related warm waters and reduced vertical wind shear in the Central Pacific have favored more and stronger tropical cyclones this season.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- As of midday Saturday, August 22, 2026, Tropical Storm Moke had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was expected to strengthen through the day.
- The National Hurricane Center forecast 5–10 inches of rain on Hawaii's Big Island with isolated totals up to 15 inches, and 1–2 inches on eastern Maui with localized amounts up to 4 inches.
- The National Hurricane Center warned the rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides on the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island, especially in steep terrain and areas recently affected by Hurricane Lala.
- Hawaii activated its joint information center on Saturday, August 22, 2026, to coordinate public updates from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for Tropical Storm Moke, days after deactivating it for Hurricane Lala.
- Hurricane Lala passed with its eye about 30 miles off the Big Island the prior weekend, producing gusts over 80 mph and more than 3 feet of rain in some locations — including 48 inches at Kapalua in Maui County — leaving soils saturated ahead of Moke.
- Meteorologists said active Central Pacific hurricane conditions are being driven by El Niño-related warm waters and reduced vertical wind shear, which favor more and stronger tropical cyclones in the region.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- As of midday Saturday, August 22, 2026, Tropical Storm Moke had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was expected to strengthen through the day.
- The National Hurricane Center forecast 5-10 inches of rain on Hawaii's Big Island, with isolated totals up to 15 inches, and 1-2 inches on eastern Maui with localized amounts up to 4 inches.
- The National Hurricane Center warned that the rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides on the windward and southeast sides of the Big Island, especially in steep terrain and areas recently affected by Hurricane Lala.
- Hawaii activated its joint information center on Saturday, August 22, 2026, to coordinate public updates from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for Tropical Storm Moke, days after deactivating it for Hurricane Lala.
- The article notes that Hurricane Lala’s eye passed about 30 miles off the Big Island the prior weekend, bringing gusts over 80 mph and more than 3 feet of rain in some locations, including 48 inches at Kapalua in Maui County, leaving soils saturated ahead of Moke.
- Meteorological context is added that the active Central Pacific hurricane conditions are being driven by El Niño-related warm waters and reduced vertical wind shear, favoring more and stronger tropical cyclones in the region.