Stormy Weather Alert For Quake - Hit Areas
A rapidly developing low-pressure system is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to northern and eastern Japan.
Weather officials are urging caution for landslides, avalanches and strong winds, particularly in areas that were hit hard by a powerful earthquake on Saturday. They say the jolt may have loosened the ground in these areas.
The officials say the low-pressure system was over waters south of western Japan on Monday morning, and is moving northeast along with a front.
At Mount Amagi in Shizuoka Prefecture, 47 millimeters of rain fell in a one-hour period on Monday morning.
The low-pressure system is expected to quickly develop to 964 hectopascals by 9 p.m., when it reaches the shores of the Sanriku coast in northeastern Japan. The reading would have then dropped by 26 hectopascals in just 12 hours.
Winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour are expected in Hokkaido through Tuesday morning. Winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour are forecast in Tohoku, 82 kilometers in Kanto-Koshin and Hokuriku, and 72 kilometers in Tokai.
The officials say maximum instantaneous wind speeds could reach 144 kilometers per hour in Hokkaido and 108 to 126 kilometers in Tokai and Tohoku.
They say the low-pressure system will continue to gather strength after Monday night, and will reach Hokkaido on Tuesday morning.
The officials warn of the risk of inundation due to storm surges along the coasts of Tohoku and Hokkaido on Tuesday.
They are forecasting snowstorms and heavy snow from northern Japan to Hokuriku.
They say the Sea of Japan coast of Hokkaido may have blizzards.
The Meteorological Agency is calling on people to keep checking the latest weather information.