Downpours Hit Hokkaido, Northern Japan
Extremely heavy rain is continuing to pound Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Tuesday, increasing the risk of disasters. The risk could also rise in other areas of northern Japan as the front moves southward.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says a front accompanied by a low-pressure system is passing over Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. That's creating unstable atmospheric conditions and bringing an influx of developed rain clouds.
Two towns in Hokkaido had record-high rainfall in the 12 hours since Monday night. Imakane had 190.5 millimeters and Okushiri had 162 millimeters, both surpassing the average for the whole month of August.
The continued rain has heightened the risk of mudslides in some areas of Hokkaido and in Akita and Iwate prefectures, both in Tohoku. Some rivers in Hokkaido are at risk of flooding.
The low-pressure system accompanied by the front is expected to soon pass over northern Japan. The front will then move south toward eastern and western Japan by Thursday.
Downpours and lightning are forecast in Hokkaido and Tohoku until Wednesday and along the Sea of Japan coast in eastern and western Japan until Thursday. Some places may have intense rainfall of more than 50 millimeters an hour.
In the 24 hours until Wednesday noon, maximum rainfall of 200 millimeters is forecast in Niigata Prefecture, 180 millimeters in the Hokuriku region, and 150 millimeters in the Chugoku region and northern Kyushu.
The Tohoku and Tokai regions are expected to have up to 120 millimeters and Kanto Koshin and Kansai will likely have 100 millimeters at most.
In the 24 hours until Thursday noon, the forecast calls for 100 to 200 millimeters in the Hokuriku, Tokai and Chugoku regions, 100 to 150 millimeters in Kanto Koshin and Kansai, and 50 to 100 millimeters in Tohoku, Niigata Prefecture and Kyushu.
Weather agency officials are warning of mudslides, rivers swelling, flooding in low-lying areas, lightning, tornadoes and gusts.
The risk of mudslides and floods remains high in northern Tohoku, where record rainfall has been observed, and along the Sea of Japan in Hokkaido.
As the front moves south, heavy rain may hit Niigata Prefecture, Hokuriku and areas along the Sea of Japan coast in western Japan.
Officials are calling on people to secure their safety in advance, as the risk of disaster may suddenly increase.