Kumamoto - Successive linear rainbands formed across five prefectures in Kyushu through the morning of July 2, bringing disaster-level rain that caused river flooding, landslides and inundated roads, while Typhoon No. 9 formed over waters far southeast of Japan.
Radar images from before dawn through the morning showed active rain clouds repeatedly moving in a line across northern Kyushu, including Kumamoto and Oita prefectures. Linear rainbands developed almost simultaneously in Saga, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Oita and Kumamoto prefectures, producing extremely heavy rainfall.
Hourly rainfall reached 84.5 millimeters in Saikai, Nagasaki Prefecture, and 73.5 millimeters in Minamioguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, causing damage including flooded roads.
Flooding occurred on the Chikugo River in Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Hita, Oita Prefecture, prompting authorities to temporarily issue Level 5 flood occurrence information. In Yufu, Oita Prefecture, a landslide sent soil onto railway tracks, with debris also flowing down to a road below after a slope beside the line collapsed.
The rainy-season front that brought the disaster-level rain to Kyushu is expected to move southward near Honshu through the night of July 2, with heavy rain forecast across a wide area from the Kinki region to Tohoku through around the evening. Rain is expected to stop in Kyushu, but authorities are urging continued caution against landslides because the ground remains loosened in some areas.
Typhoon No. 9 formed at 9 a.m. on July 2 near the Marshall Islands over waters far southeast of Japan. The storm is expected to develop rapidly while moving generally west, potentially becoming a very strong typhoon by early next week.
The typhoon had a central pressure of 1000 hectopascals at the time of formation, but forecasts show it may intensify to around 935 hectopascals with maximum sustained winds of 50 meters per second by Monday, July 6, as it approaches or passes near Saipan and other parts of the Mariana Islands. Severe weather is expected in the Mariana Islands.
The storm is forecast to move westward over waters with sea surface temperatures of around 30 C, while surrounding wind conditions are also expected to favor further development. A high-pressure system to the north is also forecast to strengthen as the typhoon develops, a pattern that could steer the storm along its edge.
Some weather models show the typhoon approaching Okinawa or Taiwan late next week if it continues westward after intensifying. Authorities say the storm's path after the latter half of next week will require close attention.
Source: FNN
