More Heavy Rain Expected To Hit Northeast Japan
Japanese weather officials are forecasting more heavy rain in the northeastern prefectures of Aomori and Akita.
The Meteorological Agency says a low-pressure system approaching northern Japan brought developed rain clouds over the two prefectures overnight into Friday.
Total precipitation since the rain began on Monday had reached 438 millimeters by 11:00 a.m. on Friday in the Dake district of Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, and 432.5 millimeters in Fukaura Town, also in Aomori.
These are 1.5 to 2 times the usual levels for the month of August.
A landslide alert has been issued for some parts of Aomori, Akita and Iwate prefectures.
In the 24 hours through Saturday noon, up to 120 millimeters of rain is expected in the northeastern region of Tohoku.
An additional 50 to 100 millimeters of rain may fall in Tohoku in the 24-hour period through Sunday noon.
The Meteorological Agency also says Tropical Storm Meari is slowly moving northward in waters south of Japan.
Agency officials say the storm is expected to gather pace and come close to the central regions of Kanto-Koshin and Tokai on Saturday, and could make landfall.