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Heavy rain, strong winds hit northern Japan

Aug 10 (NHK) - A low pressure system that resulted from tropical storm Lupit has brought heavy rain and strong winds to northern Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said rainfall in the one-hour period through 5 a.m. on Tuesday reached 33 millimeters in Hokuto City, Hokkaido Prefecture, and 22 millimeters in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture.

The agency said about 100 millimeters of rain fell in the three-hour period through 5 a.m. on Tuesday in and around Mutsu City and Kazamaura Village in Aomori Prefecture.

Weather officials have issued a mudslide alert to parts of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Gifu Prefectures, where torrential rainfall increased the risk of disaster.

Strong winds have been blowing over wide areas in eastern and northern Japan. A gust of 107 kilometers per hour was recorded in Niigata City at around 3:20 a.m. on Tuesday.

The low pressure system is forecast to pass through the Tohoku region during early afternoon on Tuesday, and approach Hokkaido.

Localized downpours are expected in northern and eastern Japan. In the 24 hours through Wednesday morning, up to 200 millimeters of rainfall is expected in Hokkaido, and the regions of Hokuriku and Tohoku.

Winds of 90 kilometers per hour are forecast for Hokkaido, and 83 kilometers per hour for the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions. The maximum wind speed could reach 126 kilometers per hour.

Weather officials are urging people in the affected areas to watch out for mudslides, floods in low-lying areas, overflowing rivers, gusts and high waves.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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