Severe Thunderstorms Strike Across Japan

In Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, where special heavy rain warnings were issued on August 27, efforts continued to restore access to communities isolated by flooding and landslides.

Hokkaido was meanwhile hit by another round of severe weather, including a linear rainband that produced extremely heavy rainfall.

Strong lightning was also seen elsewhere in Japan. Around 1 a.m. on August 28, powerful flashes illuminated the sky over Osaka, with some bolts appearing to spread across much of the night sky.

The unstable conditions have resulted in repeated localized thunderstorms in many parts of the country.

In Tomakomai, Hokkaido, roads were flooded shortly after 10 p.m. on August 27, forcing vehicles to push through deep water.

A man who crossed one flooded area said the water had reached as high as his knees.

Tomakomai recorded 61.5 millimeters of rain in one hour as localized downpours intensified across Hokkaido from the evening of August 27.

A live camera in the city captured lightning repeatedly illuminating the sky before a bolt struck nearby, sending large sparks flying from a utility pole.

A linear rainband developed over the Kushiro and Nemuro regions from around 4:30 a.m. on August 28, bringing torrential rainfall of 80 to 90 millimeters per hour between Kushiro and Nemuro.

In Hamanaka, firefighters received a report at around 3:30 a.m. that the second floor of a building was on fire. Because the upper floor was particularly badly burned, police are investigating the possibility that the blaze was caused by a lightning strike.

Lightning was also intense in Hakodate, where flashes at times illuminated the night sky almost as brightly as daylight.

Heavy rain caused further transport disruption in Date, where a landslide covered railway tracks near the entrance to a tunnel.

At around 10:30 p.m. on August 27, an out-of-service train on the JR Muroran Line struck a tree that had fallen onto the tracks and derailed. There was no immediate timetable for restoring the line.

Thunderstorms also continued around New Chitose Airport, delaying arriving flights from Haneda and other airports until late at night.

Some passengers found themselves unable to leave the airport after their flights arrived because the final JR trains of the night had already departed. Long lines formed at bus and taxi stands.

One passenger traveling from Tokyo said his flight had originally been scheduled to arrive at around 10 p.m. but did not reach New Chitose until about midnight, leaving him with nowhere to go. He said passengers had been told thunderstorms were responsible for the delay, with bad weather affecting Haneda as well as lightning clouds around New Chitose that delayed the aircraft's landing.

Families with children were among those forced to remain at the airport. One family said waiting in transportation lines late at night with children would be difficult, leaving them with little choice but to spend the night inside the terminal until morning.

Rain continued across Hokkaido on August 28, with hail reported in Hamanaka.

Kushiro was also hit by intense rain at around 1 p.m., with strong winds driving the rainfall almost horizontally across the ground.

Severe weather extended beyond Hokkaido. In Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, heavy rain pounded vehicle windshields at around 10 a.m.

Parts of the Sanin region experienced localized heavy rain under the influence of an autumn rain front, and a Level 3 heavy rain warning was temporarily issued for Izumo.

Conditions became even more violent in parts of Hokkaido, where hail suddenly began falling before a tornado was spotted.

A person recording the storm could be heard reacting in alarm after seeing the funnel, shouting that it was a tornado.

Strong winds associated with the tornado later swept through the area, leaving objects scattered across roads.

Source: FNN