Western Japan may have fierce winds, heavy rain as typhoon approaches

Japanese weather officials say that as of 9 a.m. on Monday, Hinnamnor was moving north over the East China Sea at 20 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon had a central atmospheric pressure of 950 hectopascals. Winds of at least 90 kilometers per hour were blowing within a radius of 220 kilometers of its core on the eastern side and 165 kilometers on the western side.

Strong winds are blowing in Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami region. Shortly after 8:30 a.m., gusts of up to about 95 kilometers per hour were recorded at an airport on Okinawa's Kume Island.

The typhoon is expected to move northeast over the East China Sea. It may approach northern Kyushu after passing through the Tsushima Strait between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Northern Kyushu is likely to have winds fierce enough to knock down some utility poles and damage some buildings. Through Tuesday, peak gusts are expected to reach 210 kilometers per hour in northern Kyushu, 160 kilometers per hour in Yamaguchi Prefecture and 120 kilometers per hour in southern Kyushu and the regions of Chugoku, Shikoku and Hokuriku as well as Hokkaido Prefecture.

Extremely rough seas are also forecast in waters around Kyushu. Waves measuring 12 meters high are likely in northern Kyushu and 10 meters high are expected in southern Kyushu and Yamaguchi. Chugoku, Okinawa and Amami may see waves 8 meters tall.

Flooding could hit coastal parts of western Japan, as storm surges are expected to reach a level that triggers warnings.

Heavy rain may pound Kyushu and other areas far from the typhoon due to unstable atmospheric conditions. Bands of heavy rain clouds could emerge one after another in northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi.

In the 24-hour period to Tuesday noon, rainfall is expected to rise up to 300 millimeters in southern Kyushu and Shikoku, 250 millimeters in northern Kyushu and 200 millimeters in Yamaguchi. The Tokai region is forecast to get up to 150 millimeters of rain, and Chugoku, Kansai and Amami 120 millimeters.

Weather officials are urging caution against violent winds, high waves, storm surges, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers. They are also calling on people to stay alert for lightning and gusts.