More Heavy Rain Feared In Japan's Tohoku Region
Japanese weather officials are urging people in northern parts of the country to stay vigilant for flooding and mudslides as more heavy rain is forecast for Friday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says rainclouds have been flowing over Hokkaido and northern parts of the Tohoku region due to a low pressure system accompanied by a rain front.
Western parts of Aomori Prefecture have been receiving heavy rainfall. The precipitation from Monday through 4 a.m. Friday reached 411.5 millimeters in Hirosaki City.
Rainfall has been increasing in northern parts of Akita Prefecture, with Happo Town registering 306 millimeters for the same period.
Those are well above the average rainfall for the entire month of August.
A mudslide alert is in place for parts of Aomori and Akita prefectures.
Rain will intensify in Hokkaido and Tohoku until shortly before noon on Friday. More than 50 millimeters per hour may hit northern Tohoku.
The precipitation for a 24-hour period through Friday evening may climb to 200 millimeters in northern Tohoku and 120 millimeters in southern Tohoku and Hokkaido.
Those regions have already received significant rainfall, so there is an elevated risk of mudslides and flash flooding.
Meteorologists say the rain front is likely to stay over or near northern Japan for the next seven days or so. Rain will temporarily weaken around Sunday, but strengthen again around Monday.