Tropical Storm Moke Tracker Map: ‘Life-Threatening’ Warning for Hawaii - Newsweek

Tropical Storm Moke approached Hawaii on August 23, 2026 with 45 mph winds, forecast to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain, days after Tropical Storm Lala's destruction.

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Industry impact

Repeated tropical storm threats to Hawaii in a single season could disrupt inter-island and business aviation operations through recurring flooding, wind advisories, and airport-access risk.

Tropical Storm Moke approached Hawaii on Sunday, August 23, 2026, threatening life-threatening flooding just days after Tropical Storm Lala caused widespread destruction across the islands. The National Hurricane Center reported winds of 45 mph on Saturday evening, with Moke's center forecast to pass south of the Big Island on Sunday and further south of the other islands afterward. Heavy rainfall was expected to begin hitting the Big Island early Sunday and spread westward through the day.

Rainfall totals from Moke were forecast at 5 to 10 inches, with up to 15 inches possible in some spots, while eastern Maui was expected to see 3 to 6 inches and the rest of the islands 1 to 2 inches. The NHC warned in an advisory issued at 11 p.m. local time Saturday that the rain could produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides for the windward and southeast Big Island, particularly in steep terrain and areas recently affected by Lala, and that strong gusty winds remained likely across the islands, especially in elevated terrain.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen warned that damage already inflicted by Lala meant even light to moderate rain and wind could trigger flooding, debris flows, downed trees, road closures, and power outages, and said county departments had been preparing for Moke. Lala, the second named storm to form in the Central Pacific and ninth in the broader Pacific basin in 2026, brought rainfall exceeding 3.5 feet over 48 hours in parts of the Big Island, damaged or swept away roughly 100 homes and six bridges, left more than 100,000 residents without power, caused millions of dollars in damage, and was linked to the death of a woman reported missing in Naalehu who was found dead on August 13.