Tropical Storm Moke Maintains Course South of Hawaiian Islands Tropical Storm Moke is continuing its trajectory toward the south of the main Hawaiian Islands, with the National Hurricane Center reporting that the storm remains at 545 miles southeast of Hilo as of 11 p.m. Friday. The system is moving west-northwest at 8 miles per hour, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, with gusts exceeding this speed. Tropical storm-force winds, defined as 39 to 73 miles per hour, extend 175 miles from the storm’s center. Forecasters predict Moke will gradually strengthen over the next several days but do not anticipate it reaching hurricane status. The storm is expected to peak as a mid to higher-end tropical storm, with maximum winds potentially reaching 50 to 60 miles per hour as it passes south of Hawaii Island. Afterward, it will gradually weaken. The storm’s path is anticipated to be farther south than Hurricane Lala’s previous route, though it still poses a significant threat of heavy rainfall and strong winds, particularly for the island of Hawaii, which was already impacted by Lala. The storm’s center is forecast to pass south of Hawaii Island this weekend, followed by the smaller main Hawaiian Islands by early next week. A gradual shift toward the west is expected later in the weekend as a ridge builds to the north of the system. While track guidance remains largely consistent, some cross-track variability persists as the cyclone approaches and moves south of the Hawaiian Islands. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the island of Hawaii, effective from late Saturday night through Monday afternoon.#national_weather_service #national_hurricane_center #hawaii_island #tropical_storm_moke #hawaii_islands
Hawaiʻi Island communities cut off by floods, road damage in wake of Lala Hurricane Lala struck Hawaiʻi Island with ferocious winds and heavy rains on Saturday, August 15, 2026, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. The storm, which passed within 35 miles of the island at hurricane strength, caused significant damage to infrastructure, homes, and emergency services. At least 100 residences sustained storm damage, including one that was swept off its foundation by flooding. The island’s main road through Pāhoa was blocked after a tree fell onto a utility line, disrupting transportation and communication. Emergency services faced challenges as phone and radio networks were disrupted, prompting residents to use alternative numbers for urgent calls. The Kaʻū District bore the brunt of the storm’s impact, with officials describing the damage as “devastation.” During an aerial survey conducted on Sunday, the mayor and emergency responders assessed the aftermath, noting six bridges in the area that were either severely damaged or destroyed. Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency Acting Administrator Darryl Oliveira warned that the storm’s flooding had caused long-term damage to roads and bridges, complicating access for residents. The community of Pāhala was completely isolated, with authorities working to restore a roadway connection to the town, which houses the region’s only hospital. “That’s a critical access hospital for us, and so we need to get access to that ASAP,” said a local official. Nāʻālehu and Waiʻōhinu were also partially cut off, with the highway toward Hilo blocked and access limited to Kona. Search-and-rescue operations were launched in these areas after residents called 911 as their neighborhoods flooded.#hawaii_island #hurricane_lala #phoa #ka_district #darryl_oliveira
