Jun 04 (NHK) - Heavy rain caused by low-pressure systems and rain fronts is forecast to hit areas from western through northern Japan on Friday.
The Meteorological Agency says 38 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in the hour up to 7:30 a.m. on Friday. Nichinan City in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, had 31.5 millimeters of rainfall during the same period.
Weather officials say some areas of the two prefectures have had over 200 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours.
They say up to 180 millimeters of rain is expected for the Tokai region in central Japan in the 24 hours through Saturday morning.
They are forecasting 150 millimeters of rainfall for parts of Hokkaido Prefecture in northern Japan, 120 millimeters for the Kinki region in western Japan, the Kanto-koshin region in eastern Japan and the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan.
They also forecast 100 millimeters for the southern Kyushu region of southwestern Japan, the Shikoku region of western Japan and the Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan coast.
Strong winds are also being observed in the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions.
The officials say wind speeds of more than 80 kilometers per hour are expected along the Pacific and Okhotsk coasts of Hokkaido and the Pacific coast of Tohoku on Friday.
They are warning of landslides, flooding and swollen rivers in affected areas. They are also urging caution for storms and heavy seas in northern Japan.
