Tropical Storm Moke to pass close enough to bring a period of gusty winds and heavy rain over parts of Hawaiʻi

(Update: 5 a.m. HST Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026). At 5 a.m. HST, the center of Tropical Storm Moke was located 319 miles S of Hilo, Hawaiʻi, near latitude 15.2 North, longitude 155.0 West. Moke is moving toward the west near 15 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue during the next several days, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

On the forecast track, the center of the storm is expected to pass a couple hundred miles south of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi today, then well south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands early next week. “Despite the center of Moke remaining south of the Hawaiian Islands, the cyclone is expected to pass close enough to produce a period of gusty winds and heavy rainfall across portions of the islands during the next couple of days,” the CPHC reports.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts. Moke is forecast to lose some strength during the next few days and could become a post-tropical cyclone by midweek.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches) based on data from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft.

WIND: Gusty winds are expected across the Hawaiian Islands during the next couple of days, especially in areas of high terrain.

RAINFALL: The tropical storm 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 are expected on eastern Maui. These rainfall amounts 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.

Across western Maui and the remainder of the islands, moisture drawn northward from Moke may bring up to 1 or 2 inches of rain.

According to an AccuWeather forecast, the core of Moke is expected to pass about 220 miles south of the Big Island. Its rain bands stretch about 400 miles north of the storm’s center providing a wide path of impact.

The next complete advisory will be issued at around 11 a.m. HST.