Tropical storm Moke has weakened to a tropical depression and is expected to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to parts of Hawaii on Sunday and early next week. According to the National Hurricane Center, Moke had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving west at 14 mph. The islands are bracing for potential flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas affected by recent storms such as Tropical Storm Lala. Rainfall totals are expected to range from 1-15 inches across the state, with the Big Island facing the greatest risk of severe weather conditions.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Tropical Storm Moke, which had been expected to hit Hawaii hard, weakened to a tropical depression by Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The storm was moving west at 14 mph and was forecast to pass south of the Big Island on Sunday, then well south of the smaller Hawaiian islands early next week. Despite weakening, tropical storm warnings for waters surrounding Hawaii were still in place until Sunday night, when they were canceled. However, there are concerns about flooding and mudslides on the Big Island, particularly in areas affected by previous storms, such as Tropical Storm Lala. The island of Maui is also at risk of flooding due to recent impacts from Tropical Storm Lala, which could be triggered by even light to moderate rain and wind.
Written for “Hawaii Storm Preparations” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Moke weakened to a tropical depression on Sunday, with the storm expected to deliver heavy rainfall and gusty winds to parts of Hawaii as it skirts just south of the island chain, which is still reeling from the serious damage
last weekend.
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which → weaken → damage
Moke packed maximum sustained winds of 35 mph Sunday night and was moving west at 14 mph, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
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Moke → pack → Center
Moke's center was forecast to pass south of the Big Island on Sunday, and then well south of the smaller Hawaiian islands early next week.
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center → forecast → islands
Tropical storm warnings had been in place for waters surrounding Hawaii but those were canceled by Sunday night.
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those → surround → night
Flooding and mudslides on the Big Island could be life-threatening, especially in steep terrain and over areas recently affected by Lala, said CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan.
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Nolan → threaten → Lala
"Recent impacts from Tropical Storm Lala mean that even light to moderate rain and wind could trigger flooding, debris, downed trees, roadway issues and power outages," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement.
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Bissen → mean → statement
"County departments have been preparing for Tropical Storm Moke, and we're asking our community to do the same."
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we → prepare → same
"This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides for the windward and southeast Big Island, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala," according to the National Hurricane Center.
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that → produce → Center
A hurricane hasn't made direct landfall in the state since Iniki in 1992, but the eye of the then-Category 1 Hurricane Lala passed just 30 miles off the Big Island's coast, bringing wind gusts over 80 mph and torrential rain, with some areas seeing more than 3 feet.
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areas → make → feet
Kapalua, located in Maui County, was hit with 48 inches of rain over the weekend.
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Kapalua → locate → weekend
"We know many in our community are experiencing storm fatigue and still recovering from last weekend's weather system, so mahalo for continuing to look out for one another and staying prepared — especially because we are up against an above-average hurricane season," Bissen said.
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Bissen → know → season
Rainfall totals across the hard-hit Big Island will span 5 to 10 inches with up to 15 inches in some locations, according to the hurricane center.
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totals → hit → center
Eastern Maui, the second-largest of the islands, will receive 3 to 6 inches on average.
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Maui → receive → inches
The rest of the islands could see 1 to 2 inches of rain.
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rest → see → rain
The state's Department of Land and Natural Resources warned Sunday, "the public is strongly urged to avoid forested and coastal areas," noting people should stay away from "outdoor areas that may be exposed to hazards such as flooding, rockfalls, landslides, and unstable vegetation.
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that → warn → flooding
Emergency response and rescue operations in these areas may be delayed because of dangerous conditions."
Hawaii activated its joint information center on Saturday, just days after deactivating its center for Lala.
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Hawaii → delay → Lala
The information center is responsible for coordinating updates for the public from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
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center → coordinate → Agency
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency also said Saturday that Hawaii Gov. Josh Green had submitted a request with the White House asking President Trump to issue an emergency declaration for both Lala and Moke.
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Green → say → Lala
"Our teams are working on two fronts: helping communities recover from Lala while preparing for Moke," Green said in a statement.
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Green → work → statement
"We have submitted our request for federal assistance to bring additional resources to Hawaii.
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We → submit → Hawaii
"
There are 189 Hawaii National Guard members supporting the emergency response efforts for Moke and recovery efforts from Lala, the state of Hawaii said in an update Sunday night.
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state → be → update
Of those 189 guard members, 98 were on Oʻahu, 17 were on Maui and 74 were on the Big Island, the state said.
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state → say → Island
They will be helping with clearing debris, search and rescue efforts and extraction.
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They → help → debris
The islands are paying a price from an El Niño climate pattern, via warming waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
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islands → pay → Ocean
Warm ocean waters are the essential fuel for tropical cyclone development, which makes this El Niño phase perfect conditions for an increased hurricane season in the region.
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phase → make → region
Because it reduces vertical wind shear, meaning changes in the direction of winds at higher levels of the atmosphere, an El Niño climate pattern allows for tropical systems that develop in the region to avoid getting "blown over" and falling apart.
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that → reduce → region
