OSAKA - Typhoon No. 15 approached the Kinki region on the morning of August 12 before weakening into a tropical depression over the Sea of Japan, but authorities are warning that sudden thunderstorms and heavy rain remain possible across the region.
The typhoon came closest to northern Kinki during the morning of August 12 and became a tropical depression over the Sea of Japan at around 9 a.m.
The combination of the typhoon and a spring tide prompted a temporary Level 4 storm surge danger warning for Toyooka and Kami in northern Hyogo Prefecture.
The warning has since been lifted, but swimming has been prohibited throughout the day since August 11 at a beach in Toyooka.
A visitor from Osaka who had booked the trip six months earlier to enjoy the beach with his grandchild said conditions made entering the water impossible. "We booked this six months ago so we could enjoy it with our grandchild. With waves like this, there's no way. We can't go in."
Although the typhoon has passed, warm and humid air is continuing to make rain more likely across the Kinki region.
Maximum rainfall through noon on August 13 is forecast to reach 150 millimeters in southern Kinki.
Localized areas could also see intense rain accompanied by thunder, and authorities are urging caution against flooding in low-lying areas and rising river levels.
Source: KTV NEWS
