NAHA - Typhoon No. 31 is raising concerns about flight cancellations and ferry disruptions across the western Pacific later this week, with the Japan Meteorological Agency's 12:45 a.m. advisory on October 28 showing the very strong storm moving west toward the Mariana Islands before approaching Japan's Ogasawara Islands over the weekend.
Transport services across mainland Japan are not currently expected to face significant disruption from the typhoon on Wednesday, October 28, with the storm still far to the southeast of the country. However, airlines and shipping operators serving remote Pacific islands face an increasing risk of weather-related interruptions from Friday, October 30, through early November.
The most immediate threat is to air travel around Saipan and the Northern Mariana Islands, where the typhoon is forecast to approach on Friday while maintaining very strong intensity. Severe winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous sea conditions could affect airport operations, potentially forcing airlines to delay or cancel flights.
Travelers flying between Japan and Saipan, as well as passengers using connecting services through other Pacific airports, may need to adjust their plans if the storm follows its projected route. Specific airline cancellations attributable to Typhoon 31 had not been confirmed in the transport information available early Wednesday.
The situation is also being closely watched in Japan's Ogasawara Islands, approximately 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, where the storm could threaten passenger and cargo shipping over the weekend.
The Ogasawara Islands depend heavily on the Ogasawara Maru passenger ferry, which connects Tokyo's Takeshiba Pier with Chichijima. The voyage normally takes about 24 hours, making operations particularly vulnerable to severe weather developing along the route.
Any prolonged suspension of ferry services could affect not only travelers but also deliveries of food, household goods and other essential supplies to the islands. The Hahajima Maru service connecting Chichijima and Hahajima could also become vulnerable to rough seas as the storm approaches.
The Ogasawara Maru was already operating on a modified schedule during October because of temporary replacement services for vessels serving the Izu Islands. Its voyage departing Chichijima on October 27 was scheduled to arrive in Tokyo at 3:40 p.m. on October 28, approximately 40 minutes later than usual, following an additional stop at Oshima. This change was unrelated to Typhoon 31, and no storm-related cancellation of that voyage had been confirmed.
The greatest concern for Ogasawara transport is expected to develop from Saturday, October 31, into Sunday, November 1, when the typhoon is forecast to approach waters around the islands. Forecasts indicate that the storm could slow considerably or become almost stationary, raising the possibility of several days of unfavorable conditions for maritime operations.
Even if the typhoon's center remains some distance from the inhabited islands, high waves and strong winds could make ferry operations unsafe. Shipping companies may need to revise departure dates in advance rather than risk vessels encountering deteriorating conditions at sea.
According to the latest verified advisory, Typhoon 31 was located near the Marshall Islands at midnight on October 28, moving west at approximately 10 kilometers per hour. It was maintaining maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second and gusts of up to 65 meters per second, with further intensification forecast as it moves westward.
The storm is expected to reach waters near Minamitorishima on October 29, approach the Mariana Islands on October 30 and move into the Ogasawara region on October 31. Forecast uncertainty remains significant, particularly regarding the storm's direction and speed after the weekend.
For mainland Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, the current forecast does not indicate widespread typhoon-related disruptions to domestic flights, Shinkansen services or major expressways on October 28. The immediate transportation threat is concentrated on remote island routes rather than the country's main transport network.
Travelers planning journeys to Saipan later this week or the Ogasawara Islands over the weekend are advised to check directly with airlines and ferry operators before departure, as schedules could change with relatively little notice if the storm intensifies or changes course.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is continuing to issue updated forecasts, with the timing of the typhoon's expected turn toward the northwest likely to determine whether disruption remains limited to Pacific island services or extends to a wider area of Japan's southern waters.
