Aug 14 (NHK) - The Meteorological Agency is warning of heavy rain as severe tropical storm Krosa approaches western Japan. Agency officials say it could make landfall by Thursday.
The officials are forecasting winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching 160 kilometers per hour in the southern part of the Kyushu region through Wednesday. They also expect waves of up to 10 meters off the Shikoku region.
The officials say the rain will intensify from Wednesday. They say some Pacific coastal areas of western and eastern Japan may have localized downpours of more than 80 millimeters per hour.
They say the heavy rain may continue even after the storm moves away, and overall precipitation could reach 1,000 millimeters in some areas.
Many people in Japan are currently taking vacations during the Bon summer holiday period.
Officials are advising the holidaymakers to check the latest updates and to watch for stormy weather, which may bring floods and landslides.
The storm could disrupt transportation systems. Railway operators in western Japan say they may be forced to suspend services on Wednesday and Thursday.
Airlines are also asking passengers to check for flight cancelations. They advise people to check online for updates.
