Intense rain fell in Kyoto Prefecture on Monday. Weather officials are calling on residents to be on alert for flooding in low-lying areas.
The Meteorological Agency says atmospheric conditions became very unstable mainly in western and eastern Japan due to warm, moist air and rising temperatures. That caused localized thunderstorms mainly in inland areas.
Rainclouds developed over skies around Kyoto City in the evening. One ward in the city experienced 95 millimeters of rain during the one hour through to 4:40 p.m.
The unstable atmospheric conditions are expected to continue throughout the night. Localized rainfall of over 50 millimeters per hour accompanied by thunder may fall in western and eastern Japan.
A low pressure system accompanied by a front is expected to pass over the northern prefecture of Hokkaido from Tuesday to Wednesday. Heavy rain with thunder is forecast for the region on Tuesday.
The northern Hokkaido areas on the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk sides may have precipitation of 50 millimeters per hour. Up to 150 millimeters of rain are expected over the 24 hours through Tuesday evening.
Weather officials are calling on people to be cautious about possible landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers.
Meanwhile, intense heat continued in many parts of the country.
The Meteorological Agency said a high pressure system brought clear skies to much of Japan on Monday.
A daytime high of 37.9 degrees Celsius was observed in Shiga Prefecture’s Higashiomi City, 37.4 degrees was logged in Kyoto City and the mercury rose to 36.3 degrees in central Tokyo.
The scorching heat is expected to continue on Tuesday. A daytime high of 37 degrees is forecast for Kyoto City, and 36 degrees for Hita City in Oita Prefecture, Okayama City, Nagoya City and Kofu City. The forecast for central Tokyo is 35 degrees.
People are advised to take thorough precautions against heatstroke, including using air-conditioning appropriately and replenishing fluids and salt.
AloJapan.com