It is likely that areas in Hawaii hit hard by Hurricane Lala will be impacted by a new tropical cyclone forming south and east of Hawaii, prompting the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)  to likely issue Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watches for the Big Island of Hawaii and perhaps other portions of Hawaii tonight ahead of possible storm impacts this weekend. The NHC and CPHC have initiated advisories on the new potential tropical cyclone which is expected to become a tropical storm soon.

While the storm continues to form, it’s specific future storm track and impacts to Hawaii are still unknown. At this time, it appears the system will travel west south of the islands but close enough to at least bring heavy rain and gusty winds to Hawaii, with the highest odds for the worst impacts in the same areas hit hardest by Hurricane Lala just days ago.

 

Right now, the tropical depression is located at 11.9 N 143.1 W which is about 960 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Maximum sustained winds are 35 mph while the minimum central pressure is down to 1006 mb or 29.71″.  The storm is moving west-northwest at 16 mph.

While the depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph now,  this general motion is also expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of the system is expected to pass near or south of the Big Island of Hawaii this weekend. While it approaches Hawaii, gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression could become a tropical storm later today. It is possible this system could become a hurricane too as it nears Hawaii.  When the tropical depression becomes a tropical storm, it would be given the name Moke; it would keep the name Moke if it intensified further into a hurricane.

This new storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5-10″ with maximum amounts of 15″ across the Big Island. Rainfall totals of 1-3″  with maximum amounts of 5″ are expected across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend and early next week. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain and over areas that were affected recently by Lala.

Swells generated by the depression are expected to affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands ths weekend, and could cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. At this time, storm surge is not expected to be an additional problem experienced in Hawaii.