Published: 22:29 BST, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 22:59 BST, 21 August 2026
Tropical Storm Moke has formed in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to be the second intense cyclone to impact Hawaii in back-to-back weekends.
Moke reached tropical storm strength just before 5pm ET on Friday, with sustained winds of 45 mph and heavy rainfall which officials fear will lead to additional flooding and mudslides on Hawaii's Big Island.
The state is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Lala, which killed at least two people and destroyed more than 100 homes as it barreled over the island chain one week ago.
The National Hurricane Center warned in a statement: 'Heavy rainfall associated with Moke will begin to impact the Big Island of Hawaii late Saturday night, with rain spreading westward across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands Sunday into Monday.'
'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.'
A large portion of the Big Island, also known as Hawaiʻi Island, is projected to receive four to 12 inches of rain this weekend.
Tropical Storm Moke is expected to stay farther south, meaning its impact will likely be lighter than Hurricane Lala, which battered the entire state, including the more populated islands of Oahu, Maui and Kauai.
The last time two storms impacted Hawaii in the span of two weeks was a decade ago, when Tropical Storm Madeline and Hurricane Lester passed over the state in 2016.
Tropical Storm Moke formed in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, August 21
Hawaii was severely affected by flooding during Hurricane Lala last week (Pictured)
Although Tropical Storm Moke is not predicted to reach hurricane strength, meaning its winds will not exceed 74 mph, meteorologists noted that the cyclone is significantly larger than Lala.
Rain bands from the storm stretch for roughly 200 miles from the cyclone's center, reaching the Hawaiian islands and major tourist destinations such as Honolulu, Waikiki, Kahului and Kihei.
AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said in a statement: 'Given the intense rain impacts from Lala last weekend, this is a vulnerable region that needs to be prepared for more flooding.'
NHC added that 'life-threatening surf and rip current conditions' may also develop this weekend in portions of Hawaii.