Moke forecast to reach peak intensity soon; storm center should pass couple of hundred miles south of Big Island on Sunday

Tropical Storm Moke weakened slightly Saturday afternoon, now with maximum winds of 45 mph as of the 5 p.m. advisory from Central Pacific Hurricane Center, down from 50 mph as of late morning.

However, while little change in strength is expected tonight and more of a weakening trend to begin Sunday, the threat of 5 to 10 inches of rain, with up to 15 inches in some localized areas, remains for windward and southeast portions of the Big Island.

That heavy rainfall could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas impacted a week ago by Hurricane Lala.

Strong enhanced trade winds caused by a pressure gradient created by the storm as it passes a couple of hundred miles to the south of the Big Island also remain possible at high terrain and downslope, including many locations still suffering from Lala impacts as well.