Another tropical threat looms for Hawaii

Not long after Hurricane Lala lashed Hawaii, Tropical Storm Moke os expected to pass south of the state today through Tuesday.

Heavy rain and strong winds began overnight on the Big Island. The centre of the storm is expected to pass south of the Big Island of Hawaii on Sunday, then well south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands early next week.

The storm has winds of 85 km/h with higher gusts.

Moke is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with maximum amounts of 15 inches across the Big Island. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches of rain are expected on eastern Maui. Across western Maui and the remainder of the islands, moisture drawn northward from Tropical Storm Moke may bring up to 1 or 2 inches of rain.

Due to the heavy rain, there is a possibility of flooding and mudslides for the windward and southeast Big Island, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala.

Coastal areas on east and south facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands will experience swells over the next few days.