Hawaii's Big Island, still gutted from Hurricane Lala's direct hit a week ago, is bracing for a second round of catastrophic flooding as Tropical Storm Moke grinds past the islands with winds near 45 mph and rain totals forecast as high as 15 inches.

The National Hurricane Center tracked Moke's center passing roughly 200 miles south of the Big Island on Sunday, sparing the islands a direct strike. But forecasters said the storm's real danger isn't wind — it's water landing on ground that has nowhere left to drain.

Same Ground, Less Rain Needed to Flood It

According to CBS News, the Big Island is expected to see 5 to 10 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 15 inches, while eastern Maui could pick up 3 to 6 inches. A flash flood watch covers the Big Island through Monday afternoon. Because Lala already saturated the soil and choked streams with debris, the National Hurricane Center warned the same terrain now needs far less rainfall to trigger what it called "life-threatening flooding and mudslides," particularly across the windward and southeast slopes.

"LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN AND WIND COULD TRIGGER FLOODING, DEBRIS, DOWNED TREES, ROADWAY ISSUES AND POWER OUTAGES."

That warning came from Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, whose county is still clearing wreckage from Lala. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda issued a similar plea to residents to expect "interruptions in power and communication and hazardous road conditions," according to NPR.

The timing is brutal. Lala, at peak strength a hurricane before weakening as it sideswiped the islands, dumped more than 30 inches of rain in spots, tore out roads and bridges, knocked homes off their foundations and killed at least two people, including a 90-year-old woman and a retired professor. More than 8,000 customers remained without power as of this weekend, with utility crews not expecting full restoration until September 8.

Perhaps the grimmest legacy of Lala: floodwaters tore through Naʻalehu Cemetery and a historic burial ground at Kauahaʻao Congregational Church in Waiʻohinu, unearthing caskets and human remains that washed down Kaʻalaiki Road. Hawaii National Guard specialists, working alongside cultural practitioners, archaeologists and forensic anthropologists, have spent the past week recovering and documenting nearly 70 sets of remains — an operation still underway as Moke's rain bands arrive.

Guard Mobilized, Shelters Open, Federal Aid Requested

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has formally asked the White House for a presidential emergency declaration covering Hawaiʻi, Maui and Honolulu counties, seeking federal help for communities still recovering from Lala even as Moke closes in, per the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Hawaii National Guard troops have been repositioning equipment and clearing roadways ahead of the storm.

Hawaiʻi County opened six pet-friendly shelters Saturday night — in Naʻalehu, Pāhala, Pāhoa, Keaʻau and Captain Cook — each stocked with generator power and hot showers, according to the state's emergency management agency. A hotline was also set up for residents needing temporary housing.

Officials stressed there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect and that Moke, moving west at roughly 15 mph, is forecast to weaken and stay well south of Oʻahu, Maui and Kauaʻi through early next week. But with soil already saturated and rivers still running high from Lala, emergency managers say the threat window — through Monday afternoon — is the one that matters most. Residents on the Big Island's windward and southeast flanks have been urged to avoid forested areas, streams and coastal zones until the rain clears.