THE TAKEAWAY
HONOLULU — Tropical Depression Moke is lashing Hawaii's Big Island with downpours and gusty winds, with additional rainfall capable of producing another round of flash flooding as the storm's center passes a few hundred miles south of the state.
FOX Weather Senior Correspondent Robert Ray reported that cleanup is still ongoing across parts of the Big Island after Hurricane Lala dumped nearly 3 feet of rain in some places last week, destroying homes and businesses, and causing widespread power outages.
Hawaii, which rarely sees tropical activity, is facing its second tropical system in less than two weeks as the waters of the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean warm amid a strengthening El Niño climate pattern, creating a more favorable environment for increased tropical development. El Niño could reach record strength later this year, according to NOAA.
Moke was downgraded to a Tropical Depression late Sunday and currently has maximum sustained wind gusts of 35 mph.
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross said early Monday that the Big Island appears to have dodged the worst of the rain thus far, with the heaviest rain bands staying to the south of the island.
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While Moke is weaker and tracking much farther south than Hurricane Lala, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm could still produce another 2 to 4 inches of rain across the Big Island through Monday.
The additional rain, combined with the Big Island's steep terrain and ground still saturated from Hurricane Lala, could trigger flash flooding and mudslides, the NHC said. Life-threatening flooding was possible earlier Monday, but Moke's center has now passed the Big Island.
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A Flood Watch is in effect for Hawaii County through Monday night.
Tropical Depression Moke is expected to stay well to the south of the rest of the state and is forecast to clear the rest of the islands as it continues to weaken.
Eastern Maui could also see another 1 to 3 inches of rain, while some urban and low-lying areas will also be vulnerable to flash floods.
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The NHC said Moke is forecast to become a remnant area of low pressure late Monday before completely dissipating sometime Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Iselle could bring rough surf to parts of Baja California Monday and four other areas in the Eastern Pacific are being monitored for tropical development amid the strengthening El Niño.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the overall weather pattern keeps Iselle moving westward into the open Pacific.
Iselle is currently located about 540 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, moving northwest at 12 mph, with 65 mph maximum sustained wind gusts, according to the NHC.
Conditions could be conducive enough for Iselle to strengthen into a hurricane by Monday night.
Of the other four areas to watch for tropical development in the Eastern Pacific, Tropical Depression Ten-E has formed and could interact with Iselle nearby, the FOX Forecast Center said.
TD Ten-E is located in open waters about 1,000 miles from Baja California, with wind gusts of 35 mph, and is moving north at 8 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was previously designated Invest 91E before becoming Tropical Depression Ten-E on Monday evening.
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The Forecast Center said another disturbance is expected to form well south of southern Mexico later this week.
"Development should be slow at first, but conditions may become more favorable by the end of the week as the system moves west."
This system is being given a high chance of development over the next seven days.
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