HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Moke moved toward Hawaii on Saturday, likely bringing more heavy rain and strong winds to the Big Island, where residents are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Lala’s heavy flooding and damaging winds. A road is swept away by mud Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii, following heavy rains caused by Hurricane Lala. (Aina Akamu via AP) A road is swept away by mud Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii, after heavy rains caused by Hurricane Lala. (Aina Akamu via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read more Moke, which formed Friday in the Pacific Ocean, was located about 425 miles (680 kilometers) southeast of Hilo and was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph). Maximum sustained winds were around 50 mph (85 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. As with Hurricane Lala, the Big Island was expected to bear the brunt of Moke’s rain and strong winds as it passed south of a direct hit late Saturday night into early Sunday. Moke was forecast to continue its westward track near the islands into the early hours of Tuesday, said Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu. “There will still be impacts, especially on the windward and southeastern sides of the Big Island, but they will probably be a little more limited than what we saw with Lala,” Oswant said. Lala downed trees, ripped buildings from their foundations, damaged roads and bridges, and left roads covered in mud and rocks. Two storm-related deaths were reported. Ka’u Auto Repair Shop is seen surrounded by a debris field after Hurricane Lala in Naalehu, Hawaii, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Ka’u Auto Repair Shop is seen surrounded by a debris field after Hurricane Lala in Naalehu, Hawaii, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your source favorite to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read more Weekend rainfall predictions for the southeast and windward sides of the Big Island were 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters), with up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) in isolated areas, Oswant said. Elsewhere in the island chain, 1 to 2 inches (2 to 5 centimeters) of rain was expected, although parts of eastern Maui could see up to 4 inches (10 centimeters). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but people were urged to closely monitor the storm’s progress. The rains have the potential to cause dangerous rip currents, life-threatening flooding and landslides, especially in rugged areas and places where the ground remains saturated, the center said. Your browser does not support the HTML iframe tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Internet Explorer 9 or later. The northeast coast of the Big Island recorded the heaviest rainfall totals coming from Lala, with 43.54 inches (1.1 meters), according to the weather service. More than 8,000 customers on the Big Island remained without power, according to poweroutage.us. A teenager walks through a puddle of water on a washed out section of a damaged road in Mountain View, Hawaii, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, after a severe weather system moved through the area. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) A teenager walks through a puddle of water on a washed out section of a damaged road in Mountain View, Hawaii, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, after a severe weather system hit the area. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read more Hawaii Governor Josh Green and other state officials held a press conference ahead of Moke, urging people to prepare by restocking food, medicine and other essential items. “There is definitely tension in the air” at the thought of more rain in communities where floodwaters have turned into rivers, said Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a teacher who lives in Keaau, on the east side of the Big Island. Subscribe to Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the day’s biggest headlines. ___Associated Press writer Alexa St. John in Detroit contributed.
