Howzit Kohala

08/23/2026

5:38pm air quality

08/23/2026

08/23/2026

500 PM HST Sat Aug 22 2026
The maximum intensity winds have been lowered to 40mph. It's 360 miles from Hilo, maximum winds now at 45mph (down from 50), and moving fast at 14mph.

Moke has weakened slightly during the past several hours. The
persistent deep convection that had been located over and north of
the circulation overnight and through the morning hours has largely
collapsed, with cloud tops warming noticeably. This deterioration
appears to be due, at least in part, to persistent southwesterly
vertical wind shear and dry mid-level air. Peak 700-mb flight-level
winds from the reconnaissance aircraft have been around 43 kt, while
a UAS measured peak winds of about 38 kt while sampling near the
surface in the northeast quadrant. These data, along with the
deteriorating satellite presentation, support lowering the initial
intensity to 40 kt for this advisory.

Moke continues to move west-northwestward, with an initial motion of
280/12 kt. A general west-northwestward motion is expected to
continue during the next several days as a low- to mid-level ridge
strengthens to the north of the cyclone. This track should bring the
center of Moke a couple of hundred miles south of the Big Island on
Sunday and then well south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands
thereafter. The track guidance remains in good agreement, and the
NHC forecast is very similar to the previous forecast. Despite the
center of Moke remaining south of the Hawaiian Islands, the cyclone
is expected to pass close enough to produce a period of gusty winds
and heavy rainfall across portions of the islands during the next
couple of days.

Moke appears to be near its peak intensity, if it has not already
reached it. Although vertical wind shear is forecast to decrease
somewhat during the next day, an increasingly dry and stable
surrounding environment should limit additional strengthening and
likely cause Moke to begin weakening on Sunday. Thereafter,
increasing vertical wind shear and continued entrainment of dry air
should result in a gradual weakening trend through early next week.
By around 96 h, both the GFS and ECMWF depict Moke becoming largely
devoid of deep convection, and the cyclone could degenerate into a
remnant low by Wednesday, then dissipate by day 5. The latest NHC
intensity forecast is similar to the previous advisory and lies near
the middle to upper end of the guidance envelope.


Key Messages:

1. Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Moke will begin to
impact the Big Island of Hawaii late tonight, 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.

2. Although the strongest winds associated with Moke are expected to
pass south of the Hawaiian Islands, strong gusty winds are likely,
particularly in areas within and downslope of higher terrain.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 23/0300Z 15.3N 152.1W 40 KT 45 MPH
12H 23/1200Z 15.6N 153.8W 40 KT 45 MPH
24H 24/0000Z 15.9N 156.3W 40 KT 45 MPH
36H 24/1200Z 16.3N 158.9W 40 KT 45 MPH
48H 25/0000Z 16.8N 161.3W 35 KT 40 MPH
60H 25/1200Z 17.3N 163.9W 35 KT 40 MPH
72H 26/0000Z 18.0N 166.5W 35 KT 40 MPH
96H 27/0000Z 18.9N 172.0W 30 KT 35 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
120H 28/0000Z...DISSIPATED

08/23/2026

08/23/2026

This is a Tropical Storm Moke information update for Saturday 08-22-2026 at 03:46 PM.

As of 11:00 am this morning Tropical Storm Moke was located approximately 425 miles southeast of Hilo and moving in a west-northwest direction at 12 mph. Currently Moke is producing sustained winds of up to 50 mph with higher gusts. Little strengthening is forecast for the remainder of the day, followed by a gradual weakening of the system beginning tomorrow. On the current track, Moke is expected to pass to the south of Hawaii Island beginning tomorrow morning.

Tropical Storm Moke is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rains, and possible flooding conditions beginning tonight and through tomorrow and into Monday.

Strong wind conditions are forecast to begin this afternoon peaking tonight and into early Sunday morning. Areas of concern are Kau, lower Puna, the Hamakua coast, and Kohala.

Heavy rains that could present with flooding conditions are forecast to begin late tonight and remain through Monday afternoon. Areas of interest or concern for flooding are the windward and southeast slopes of Hawaii Island.

Residents and businesses in flood prone areas, especially those impacted by Hurricane Lala, are advised to prepare for possible additional flood impacts and consider relocating from the area before storm conditions begin.

For those who may need a place to shelter, the following County shelters will be available:

The Naalehu School Gym and the Robert Herkes Gym in Pahala are open at this time.

The Pahoa Senior Center, Keaau Armory, Puueo Community Center in Hilo and the Yano Hall in Kona will be opened at 8:00 pm this evening.

Please continue to monitor local radio broadcasts for additional updates and official advisories in your area.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency at (808) 935-0031 or visit the Civil Defense website.

08/23/2026

⚠️ Wind Advisory (Kohala, Big Island Interior, Big Island South, Big Island Southeast, Big Island North)
Wind Advisory issued August 22 at 3:02AM HST until August 23 at 6:00PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI

* WHAT...East northeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph
expected.

* WHERE...Portions of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and the Big
Island. Strongest sustained winds will occur over mountain
ridges...gaps...and where winds blow downslope from higher terrain.

* WHEN...From noon today to 6 PM HST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Winds this strong can tear off shingles, knock down tree
branches, blow away tents and awnings and make it difficult to
steer, especially for drivers of high profile vehicles.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Watch out for falling tree branches when walking or driving. Make
sure tents and awnings are secure or take them down. Be prepared for
power outages.

Secure trash cans, lawn furniture, and other loose outdoor objects
that can be easily blown around by strong winds.

08/23/2026

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a single-vehicle collision that critically injured a three-year-old Mountain View girl Saturday morning, August 22, 2026.

At 10:03 a.m., police responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision in the driveway of a residence in the 11-3000 block of Hibiscus Street in Mountain View.

A preliminary investigation determined that a black 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was parked in the driveway of the residence and occupied by a 17-year-old girl, a 6-year-old boy, and a 3-year-old boy. It was inadvertently shifted into neutral gear causing the vehicle to roll back and strike the toddler who was walking behind it. The vehicle then struck a parked, unattended vehicle before coming to a rest after hitting a tree.

The child was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center with critical injuries and subsequently medevacked to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children on Oahu for further treatment.

No one else was injured as a result of this collision. Police do not believe that alcohol and/or drugs are factors in this collision.

The Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a major traffic collision investigation, which is ongoing at this time.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to please contact Officer Laurence Davis at (808) 961-2339, or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

08/22/2026

FROM HECO.....

We expect to restore power to customers from Orchid Isle Substation to Mountain View Post Office, Mountain View, Glenwood, and Ahualoa in 5-7 days. Estimated restoration times are based on the best information available at the time and are subject to change.

We expect to restore power to customers in Ocean View and Ranchos subdivisions, Paauilo Mauka, Kohala Mountain, Namakani to Royal Hawaiian Estates/Mauna Loa Estates, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Forest, and Volcano within 24 hours for most. Some customers may experience extended outages. Estimated restoration times are based on the best information available at the time and are subject to change.

We expect to restore power to customers in Kaloko Mauka in beyond 48 hours. Significant extended outage is possible. Estimated restoration times are based on the best information available at the time and are subject to change.

We expect to restore power to customers in Kau including Waiohinu, Naalehu, Punaluu, Pahala, and Wood Valley by 9/8. Estimated restoration times are based on the best information available at the time and are subject to change.

08/22/2026

The one positive I can see from these updated forecast paths....92E heading a bit more North than before and not as much West.....