Heavy rain expected as typhoon heads toward Kanto, northern Japan

[Ceewan]

Typhoon Chanthu is expected to come close to the Kanto region around Tokyo and northern Japan between the evening of Aug. 16 and Aug. 17, bringing heavy rain to these areas, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

The JMA also warns of floods, landslides, swollen rivers and high waves in areas that will be affected by the typhoon.

As of noon on Aug. 16, the typhoon, this year's seventh, was situated about 190 kilometers east-southeast of Hachijo Island, south of Tokyo, and was moving north-northwest at about 25 kilometers per hour. The atmospheric pressure at its center is 990 hectopascals and it is packing winds of up to 20 meters per second at its center. The maximum instantaneous wind speed caused by the typhoon is 30 meters per second.

The typhoon is expected to come close to the Kanto region in the predawn hours of Aug. 17 and move north along the Tohoku region and Hokkaido.

The maximum amount of rain that is forecast to fall over a 24-hour period until noon on Aug. 17 is 250 millimeters in the Kanto and Tohoku regions and 150 millimeters in Hokkaido, according to the JMA.

 

[Ceewan]

More rain expected in Hokkaido

Weather officials have issued warnings of flooding and landslides, as a tropical storm heads north off the Pacific coast of northern Japan.

The storm, "Kompasu," made landfall in the prefecture of Hokkaido at about 11 PM on Sunday.

More than 200 millimeters of rain have fallen in some parts of Hokkaido since Friday. That's more rain than normally falls during all of August.

The Meteorological Agency is urging people to be on the alert for strong winds and gusts, high waves and lightning.

Heavy rains have flooded at least 54 houses in Hokkaido.

 

[Ceewan]

Tropical storm 'Mindulle' approaches Tokyo



Tropical storm "Mindulle" is approaching the Tokyo Metropolitan region. The capital and surrounding areas will be hit by heavy rain that is expected to start Monday morning.

The amount of rainfall by Monday evening is estimated to reach 300 millimeters in the country's eastern regions. 200 millimeters is forecast for the Izu Islands south of the capitol in the Pacific Ocean.

Transportation services will be affected. Nearly 180 domestic air flights -- mainly to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport on Monday -- have already been canceled.

Agency officials are urging people to be on the alert for landslides, river flooding, windstorms and high waves.

 

[Ceewan]

Storm Mindulle heads to northern Japan


Severe Tropical Storm Mindulle is heading north through Japan after making landfall south of Tokyo on Monday afternoon.

Officials at the Japan Meteorological Agency say the storm is packing winds of up to 108 kilometers per hour near its center.

One person died and 46 people were injured as windstorms and torrential rain battered 6 prefectures in central and eastern Japan, including Tokyo.

The officials say some parts of Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, recorded downpours of about 100 millimeters per hour around noon.

Across Saitama, surging waters caused 7 rivers to overflow.

The severe weather forced the cancellation of more than 500 flights, and also disrupted train services.

The officials say the storm could dump more than 50 millimeters of rain per hour over northern Japan from Monday night through Tuesday.

They warn there's a high risk of mudslides across wide areas. They're also advising people to be on the alert for flooding, strong winds and high waves.

 

[Ceewan]

Powerful typhoon lashes Kanto, raising flood risks

Vehicles run along National Highway Route 135, flooded by a typhoon, in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Monday morning.

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — A powerful typhoon made landfall in Chiba Prefecture, early Monday afternoon, lashing the metropolitan area with torrential rain and strong winds and disrupting air and rail traffic.

Authorities issued mudslide and other warnings, as well as an evacuation advisory for possible flooding.

The typhoon, the ninth this year, is forecast to continue heading north through Tuesday morning, moving across the Tohoku region to reach Hokkaido.

A man was found dead in a roadside ditch in the Hokkaido city of Kitami, while a woman was unconscious after apparently being swept away on a flooded road in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

More than 450 flights were canceled.

 

[Ceewan]

3 typhoons slam Hokkaido in a year for first time on record

A flooded home near an overflown river is seen in the town of Hidaka, Hokkaido, on Aug. 23, 2016.

SAPPORO -- Three typhoons this year have made landfall on Hokkaido, the first time it has been hit by three typhoons in a year since records began being kept in 1951, according to the Sapporo Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency.

At around 6 a.m. on Aug. 23, Typhoon Mindulle made landfall on Hokkaido, near the town of Shinhidaka in the Hidaka region. This followed the Aug. 17 arrival of Typhoon Chanthu and the Aug. 21 arrival of Typhoon Kompasu.

The Sapporo Regional Headquarters called for severe caution against mudslides and raised water levels in rivers. Mindulle headed into the Sea of Okhotsk later on Aug. 23, where it was downgraded to an extratropical cyclone. Over the hour up to 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 23, the southern part of the town of Hidaka had around 60 millimeters of rainfall.