A tropical storm has made landfall in Hokkaido. Officials are warning of high winds and waves in the region.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says Severe Tropical Storm Nari made landfall around Cape Erimo in Hokkaido at about 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
Strong winds are expected to blow in northern Japan. Officials warn of rough sea conditions off the region’s coast.
There is a chance of heavy downpours, accompanied by thunder, in Hokkaido, with some areas forecast to receive 120 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours through Tuesday evening.
Officials are warning people in Hokkaido to be on the alert for high winds and waves, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.
Meanwhile, atmospheric conditions are extremely unstable in eastern Japan, due to a low-pressure system over the Sea of Japan and an influx of warm, moist air. Developed rain clouds are flowing in from the south.
In the one-hour period through 1:50 a.m. on Tuesday, 54 millimeters of rain were recorded in the town of Ibigawa in Gifu Prefecture. The Ikawa district of Shizuoka City received 30 millimeters of rain in one hour through 2:00 a.m.
It appears that Suruga Ward in Shizuoka City was hit by strong gusts of winds like tornados on Monday night. Officials had issued tornado advisories.
The atmospheric conditions in the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions will remain highly unstable, with a chance of heavy downpours, accompanied by thunder, in some areas.
Bands of heavy rain clouds may develop over four prefectures in the Tokai region — Mie, Aichi, Gifu and Shizuoka — through noon on Tuesday.
In the 24-hour period through the evening, up to 250 millimeters of rain are forecast for Tokai; and 200 millimeters in Kanto-Koshin. Both the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions are forecast to get another 150 millimeters in the following 24 hours through Wednesday evening. And Tokai is expected to receive 200 millimeters more in another 24-hour period through Thursday evening.
Officials warn that heavy rain could continue in the Pacific coastal areas of eastern Japan through Thursday. They are warning of mudslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers, as well as lighting strikes, gusty winds like tornados, and hail.
AloJapan.com