NAHA - Two typhoons are approaching Okinawa in succession, with Typhoon No. 20 (Kenari) already affecting the Sakishima Islands with heavy rain and strong winds while the much stronger Typhoon No. 18 (Soudelor) is forecast to intensify further before passing near the Daito Islands and Okinawa's main island later this week. As of 5 a.m. on August 23, Typhoon No. 20 was north of Yonaguni Island and moving south-southwest. The storm is expected to maintain typhoon strength through August 24.
Although its center is moving away from the Sakishima Islands and Okinawa's main island region, high waves accompanied by swells remain a concern.
Moist air around the typhoon is also making atmospheric conditions unstable, raising the risk of localized heavy rain and thunderstorms. Authorities are urging residents to remain alert for flooded roads, inundation and landslides.
The storm's maximum sustained winds were around 18 meters per second, making it relatively weak as a typhoon, but active rain clouds were developing in the moist air surrounding the system.
Heavy rain clouds were moving across areas near Yonaguni and beginning to reach Okinawa's main island.
The Sakishima Islands face the greatest risk of heavy rain, with active rain clouds expected to continue flowing in from the south around the typhoon. Rainfall could exceed 30 millimeters per hour in some areas, potentially producing significant accumulations.
Okinawa's main island and the Amami region are less likely to experience rain clouds as intense as those affecting the Sakishima Islands, but periods of heavy rain are still expected as rain bands move through.
Southerly winds were already averaging more than 10 meters per second in some areas, and similar conditions are expected to continue during the day. Gusts could exceed 25 meters per second, creating a risk from flying objects.
Typhoon No. 18, meanwhile, is far more powerful and was moving northwest over waters near the Ogasawara Islands.
The storm was about 750 kilometers south of the Ogasawara Islands, with a central pressure of 950 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 40 meters per second.
Typhoon No. 18 is forecast to continue strengthening, with its central pressure expected to fall to 925 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds to reach 50 meters per second around August 23 to August 24, placing it in the "very strong" category.
The typhoon is expected to pass near the Daito Islands around August 25 while maintaining very strong intensity.
It is then forecast to move west or west-southwest and pass near Okinawa's main island around August 26. Even at that stage, maximum sustained winds are expected to remain around 40 meters per second, meaning the storm would still be classified as strong.
The typhoon could then move toward the Sakishima Islands between August 27 and August 28.
A direct hit on the Ogasawara Islands is considered unlikely, but waves are expected to rise through the next several days. Seas around the Daito Islands and Okinawa's main island are also expected to become increasingly rough from August 24.
Around the period of closest approach from August 26 through August 28, maximum sustained winds of around 40 meters per second and gusts of up to 60 meters per second are possible from Okinawa's main island to the Sakishima Islands.
Typhoon No. 18 is relatively compact compared with Typhoon No. 13, which passed near southern Amami and Okinawa's main island earlier in August.
While the previous storm had a more dispersed area of strong winds and heavy rain, Typhoon No. 18 has a more concentrated structure, meaning winds and rainfall could become extremely intense close to its center.
Forecasters are urging Okinawa residents to prepare early, warning that Typhoon No. 18 could bring more severe wind and rain than Typhoon No. 13 as it approaches the region during the middle of the week.
Source: ウェザーニュース
