A large and strong Typhoon No. 13 is expected to strike Okinawa's main island on August 7, bringing destructive winds, torrential rain and widespread flight cancellations, while a newly formed Typhoon No. 15 could approach the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Kanto during the Obon holiday period.
Typhoon No. 13 was moving west while maintaining its large size and strong intensity. The Daito Islands, where the storm was expected to make its closest approach on the night of August 6, had already entered the typhoon's storm zone, and warnings for violent winds and high waves were in effect.
Images recorded around 6:30 a.m. on August 6 showed large waves crashing forcefully against seawalls in the Daito Islands.
Maximum gusts of 55 meters per second were forecast across Okinawa on August 7 and August 8. Winds of that strength could cause homes to collapse and topple utility poles.
The typhoon could also produce linear rainbands over Okinawa's main island and the Daito Islands, sharply increasing the risk of flooding, landslides and other disasters caused by heavy rain.
Air travel was already being severely disrupted. Japan Airlines planned to cancel a total of 232 flights from August 6 through August 8, while All Nippon Airways planned to cancel 244 flights over the same period. About 75,000 passengers were expected to be affected.
Southern Kyushu and Okinawa were forecast to experience severe weather from August 7 through August 8 as moist air surrounding the typhoon moved into the region.
Winds were also expected to strengthen gradually in earthquake-hit Kumamoto from August 7, followed by rain on August 8 and continuing into the beginning of the following week.
Because the ground has been loosened by the recent earthquake, even a small amount of rain could trigger landslides or other damage. Residents were urged to remain alert and stay away from cliffs and steep slopes.
A second storm, the large Typhoon No. 15, formed on August 5, leaving two typhoons near Japan.
Typhoon No. 15 was located southeast of Japan near the Ogasawara Islands as of 9 a.m. on August 6 and was expected to move northwest. It could approach the Pacific side of Japan from Hokkaido to Kanto around the middle of the following week.
The storm was forecast to have a central atmospheric pressure of 994 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 20 meters per second at 9 a.m. on August 11. Although it was not expected to become particularly powerful, moist air flowing around the system could cause rain clouds to develop.
Forecast uncertainty remained high, with a wide range of possible tracks shown in weather models. Depending on the route and timing of its approach, Typhoon No. 15 could disrupt transportation during the Obon holiday travel period.
Much of Japan was expected to see periods of sunshine during the holiday, particularly in western Japan, but sudden showers and thunderstorms remained possible in inland and mountainous areas because of unstable atmospheric conditions.
Rain was forecast in parts of Hokkaido and Tohoku from the night of August 7 through August 8 as a weather front passed through northern Japan.
Okinawa was expected to remain prone to rain during the following week because of a continuing flow of moist air, while southern Kyushu faced the possibility of heavy rain in the near term.
People planning mountain recreation or travel during the holiday were urged to watch for sudden changes in the weather and closely monitor the latest typhoon and transportation information.
Source: FNN
