Japan weather officials warn of mudslides, downpours in Kyushu

Jul 04, 2023 | News On Japan

Jul 04, 2023 (NHK) - Japanese weather officials are warning that southwestern Japan's Kyushu region could be hit by mudslides and torrential downpours.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a land ministry rain gauge in Kagoshima City recorded heavy precipitation of 41 millimeters in the hour until 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Rain clouds have developed in southern Kyushu, due to the effects of a stationary active front in the area.

The risks of mudslides are very high in the prefecture, and warnings have been issued in some areas.

A front stretching from a low pressure system advancing near the Sea of Japan is expected to bring lightning and downpours of at least 50 millimeters an hour until Wednesday in Kyushu.

The precipitation in the 24 hours until noon on Wednesday could reach up to 200 millimeters in southern and northern Kyushu. In the 24 hours until noon on Thursday, between 100 and 150 millimeters are expected in southern Kyushu, and between 50 to 100 millimeters are expected in northern Kyushu.

Kyushu has seen record precipitation of around 500 to 600 millimeters in many areas, due to the intermittent rains that have fallen since last Thursday. The risks of mudslides could suddenly heighten with even a small amount of rain in areas where the ground is already loose.

The agency is calling on people to watch out for mudslides, floods in low-lying areas, overflowing rivers, lightning and wind gusts.

Officials are calling on people to prepare ahead of time before the rain becomes heavy again. People are advised to check hazard maps in their communities, stay updated about any risks and confirm the locations of evacuation areas.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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