Typhoon Champi is bringing strong winds to the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan. The storm is expected to affect a wider area in the coming days. Authorities say there is a risk of downpours, flooding and landslides.
In the three hours through 4 a.m., gusts reached 113.7 kilometers per hour in Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City, and 113.4 kilometers per hour on Hateruma Island.
A Level 4 Urgent Warning for landslides has been issued for parts of the prefecture.
The large and powerful typhoon is expected to move northward, bringing fierce winds and rough seas to the Sakishima Islands. Bands of heavy rain clouds could form through early morning, and the risk of disasters could rise sharply.
Rainfall could reach 150 millimeters on the islands in the 24 hours through 12 a.m. on Sunday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is warning of violent winds, high waves and storm surges. People are urged to stay alert for rain-triggered landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.
The typhoon could still take a range of different courses, but is expected to turn eastward and approach the Kyushu region around Monday, before becoming a low-pressure system.
Rain clouds have formed from the Tokai to the Kinki regions as the typhoon moves north. In Mie Prefecture, rainfall in the hour through 4 a.m. measured 36.5 millimeters in Kumano City’s Atashika, and 32.5 millimeters in Owase City.
Torrential rain is forecast for western and eastern Japan on Saturday.
Rainfall in the 24 hours through 12 a.m. on Sunday could reach 250 millimeters in northern Kyushu, and 100 millimeters in the Kinki and Chugoku regions. In the following 24 hours, up to 200 millimeters of rain could fall in northern Kyushu and 120 millimeters in the Hokuriku and Chugoku regions.
Rainfall could increase further until around Tuesday, raising the risk of landslides, flooding and swollen rivers. People are advised to follow the latest information.
AloJapan.com