NAHA - A large and strong Typhoon No. 13 was making its closest approach to Okinawa's main island and the Amami region on August 7, bringing torrential rain, violent winds and waves exceeding 8 meters as the slow-moving storm threatened to prolong severe weather through August 8.
As of 1 p.m. on August 7, the typhoon was estimated to be about 50 kilometers north of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture and moving west at 25 kilometers per hour while maintaining strong intensity.
The storm had a central atmospheric pressure of 940 hectopascals, maximum sustained winds near its center of 40 meters per second and maximum gusts of 55 meters per second.
Active rain clouds surrounding the typhoon were repeatedly moving across Okinawa's main island and the Amami region, bringing heavy rain to widespread areas.
Very strong winds were also being recorded outside the relatively calm area near the typhoon's eye. Some locations in Okinawa and Amami experienced gusts exceeding 40 meters per second.
Seas around the storm were extremely rough, with waves of more than 8 meters. Authorities warned of even more dangerous conditions in waters around Okinawa and the East China Sea.
The typhoon was forecast to continue westward while maintaining strong intensity through the night of August 7, but its forward speed was expected to slow.
By around 9 p.m., the storm was forecast to be moving west at about 15 kilometers per hour, down from 25 kilometers per hour in the afternoon.
The slower movement means Okinawa could remain within the storm's area of violent winds for an extended period, with heavy rain, strong winds and high waves continuing through the night and potentially into August 8.
Residents in Okinawa and Amami were urged to remain alert as severe weather conditions could persist longer than initially expected.
Source: ウェザーニュース
