Tropical Storm Moke is moving toward the Big Island of Hawaii, bringing strong winds and heavy rain as residents prepare for its passage. The storm is expected to pass south of the island overnight into the following morning.

As of 11 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, the storm was located about 684 kilometres (425 miles) south of Hilo and moving west‑northwest at 19 kilometres per hour (12 miles per hour). The National Hurricane Center reported maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour).

Moke follows Hurricane Lala, which struck the islands a week earlier, causing flooding, power outages for nearly 130,000 customers and at least one fatality.

Governor Josh Green urged residents to stock emergency supplies and said the storm could affect the island because it is still recovering. He also announced the pre‑positioning of equipment and the opening of 100 hotel rooms for evacuees.

Power restoration after Lala was largely completed, though some remote areas remained without electricity; full restoration was expected by September 8.

Forecasters said Moke is projected to pass south of the Big Island overnight and move westward through early Tuesday. Meteorologist Casey Oswant of the Honolulu Weather Service noted that wind and rain impacts would be more limited than those experienced with Lala, especially on the windward and southeast sides of the island.

Rainfall totals are expected to reach 130 to 250 millimetres (5 to 10 inches) over the next two days on the southeast and windward slopes, with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 380 millimetres (15 inches). Eastern Maui is forecast to receive 76 to 150 millimetres (3 to 6 inches), while the rest of the island chain will see lighter precipitation.

Governor Green warned that the heavy rain may be followed by another storm front about a week later, continuing the pattern of major weather events affecting Hawaii.