TOKYO - Typhoon No. 26 made its closest approach to the Kanto region on October 1 before heading north without making landfall, while a newly formed Typhoon No. 27 is expected to strengthen as it moves toward the Ogasawara Islands early next week, raising concerns about further unsettled weather across Japan as Tokyo extended its record-breaking streak of consecutive rainy days to 36.
Typhoon No. 26 passed farther east than initially feared, avoiding a direct hit on the Japanese mainland and sparing Chiba Prefecture from the heavy rainfall that had been a major concern following weeks of unusually persistent wet weather.
The storm was located approximately 200 kilometers east-northeast of Hachijojima in the Izu Islands during the afternoon of October 1, traveling about 280 kilometers from central Tokyo as it made its closest approach to the capital.
Although the typhoon had weakened considerably, meteorologists continued to monitor its movement as it headed north over the Pacific Ocean.
Satellite and radar observations showed that the storm's most developed rain clouds remained concentrated over the sea, with relatively little precipitation reaching Chiba Prefecture. Sunshine was returning to some parts of the prefecture by the afternoon.
The storm's more easterly track meant that the potentially dangerous rain clouds associated with its circulation avoided areas that had already experienced prolonged rainfall, reducing the risk of further flooding and other weather-related damage.
In central Tokyo, meanwhile, residents enjoyed an unusually bright afternoon after weeks of gloomy conditions.
Clear skies were visible over Shibuya's famous scramble crossing, while Odaiba on Tokyo Bay was also bathed in sunshine. The return of clear weather was particularly striking after a September marked by persistent rain across the capital.
Despite the sunny conditions, Tokyo's record-breaking sequence of rainy days continued into October because light rain had fallen during the early morning hours of October 1.
The brief showers extended the capital's streak to 36 consecutive days with recorded rainfall, setting a new record for the longest such period in Tokyo's observation history.
The sunshine also brought a sharp rise in temperatures.
Tokyo recorded exactly 30.0 degrees Celsius at 2:23 p.m. on October 1, marking its first day with temperatures reaching at least 30 degrees in nine days.
Temperatures around Odaiba subsequently stood at approximately 29.5 degrees, giving the waterfront district a distinctly summery atmosphere despite the arrival of October.
The return of sunshine, however, may prove short-lived.
Forecasters warned that another period of cloudy and potentially rainy weather could develop around Tokyo on October 2, raising the possibility that the consecutive rainfall record could extend to 37 days.
Although Typhoon No. 26 is expected to move farther away from Kanto during the evening of October 1, moist air lingering behind the storm could contribute to the development of a weak frontal boundary near eastern Japan.
The boundary may not be clearly represented on standard surface weather charts, but the interaction of moist air masses could generate additional clouds and showers across the Kanto region.
Meteorologists said the system was unlikely to produce particularly heavy rainfall around Tokyo on October 2, although showers remain possible during the daytime.
Cloud cover is expected to bring a substantial drop in temperatures, with Tokyo's daytime high forecast to reach only around 22 degrees Celsius, compared with the 30 degrees recorded on October 1.
The sharp change means residents who were comfortable wearing short sleeves on October 1 may need jackets or other additional clothing the following day.
Conditions are expected to remain considerably warmer in western Japan, where high pressure extending from the Asian continent should bring sunshine to many areas.
Some western regions could again experience temperatures of 30 degrees or higher on October 2, prolonging summerlike conditions into the beginning of October.
Nagoya also experienced strong sunshine on October 1, with clear skies visible above the high-rise buildings surrounding Nagoya Station.
Temperatures in the city reached 30.3 degrees Celsius, making it another midsummer day, the term used by Japan's weather agency for days when temperatures reach at least 30 degrees.
Despite the beginning of autumn, the combination of strong sunshine and high temperatures continued to make prolonged outdoor activity uncomfortable in parts of central and western Japan.
Attention is also turning to Typhoon No. 27, which formed over the Pacific Ocean near the Mariana Islands during the early morning of October 1.
The newly formed storm is expected to move northward while gradually strengthening, with forecasts indicating that it could develop a storm-force wind zone around its center.
Its projected path takes it toward the Ogasawara Islands, approximately 1,000 kilometers south of central Tokyo.
Forecasts available on October 1 suggested the typhoon could pass relatively close to the islands between Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6.
Although its longer-term course remains uncertain, forecasters warned that residents of the Ogasawara Islands should pay close attention to further updates as the storm intensifies.
The development of another typhoon so soon after Typhoon No. 26 highlights the continued potential for tropical cyclones in the western Pacific well into autumn.
Sea surface temperatures across parts of the ocean south of Japan remain relatively high, providing favorable conditions for tropical cyclone formation and strengthening.
Meteorologists noted that Japan's typhoon season does not necessarily end with September, recalling that the country has previously experienced a typhoon landfall as late as November 30.
As a result, further tropical cyclone activity remains possible during October and even later in the year.
The succession of storms is particularly concerning for communities in Chiba Prefecture and other parts of Kanto that have endured prolonged rainfall.
Residents in some affected areas remain anxious about renewed heavy rain, even during periods of sunshine, as repeated storms and unsettled weather have continued to disrupt daily life.
While Typhoon No. 26 avoided the worst-case rainfall scenario for Chiba, forecasters emphasized that the possibility of additional storms means the region cannot yet assume that the period of unsettled weather has ended.
Elsewhere, northern Japan is expected to experience deteriorating weather as colder air moves into the region.
Rain clouds are forecast to develop across parts of northern Japan from the evening of October 1 through October 2, with rain and winds becoming stronger particularly along the Sea of Japan coast.
The combination of colder air and unstable atmospheric conditions could produce periods of more widespread precipitation, contrasting with the relatively settled conditions expected across much of western Japan.
Looking ahead to the weekend, sunshine is forecast to spread across a wider area of the country on Saturday, October 3.
Western Japan and the Tokai region are expected to see relatively favorable weather on October 2, followed by generally clearer conditions across much of Japan the following day.
Daytime temperatures in western Japan may continue to approach 30 degrees, however, meaning residents will still need to take precautions against lingering heat despite the autumn calendar.
Another change is expected toward Sunday, October 4, and Monday, October 5, when conditions may deteriorate again.
Western Japan in particular could experience a more organized spell of rainfall on October 5, although forecasters said the precipitation was not currently expected to reach the intensity associated with major heavy-rain events.
Some forecasts suggest clearer conditions could return around the middle of next week, but confidence in the outlook is limited by the uncertain track of Typhoon No. 27.
Weather patterns during the latter half of next week could change considerably depending on how the new storm develops and whether it approaches Japan's Pacific islands or moves farther away from the mainland.
The unsettled conditions also reflect the uneven transition from summer to autumn, with cooler mornings and evenings increasingly common even as daytime temperatures occasionally climb above 30 degrees.
Forecasters cautioned that the contrast between warm sunshine and sudden cooler, wetter conditions is likely to continue over the coming days.
With Typhoon No. 26 moving away from Kanto and Typhoon No. 27 approaching the Ogasawara region, meteorologists are urging residents to remain alert to changing forecasts, particularly in areas that have already experienced prolonged rainfall.
Previously: Typhoon No. 26 Weakens Near Izu Islands as No. 27 Gathers Strength
Source: KTV NEWS
