Stormy Weather To Intensify In Northern Japan
Rains and winds are intensifying mainly in northern Japan due to a low pressure system.
Maximum instantaneous wind speeds of about 107 kilometers per hour were observed in the Nasu Kogen highland in Tochigi Prefecture around 5:30 p.m. on Mondsay.
Weather officials are warning of mudslides in some areas in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, where a recent powerful earthquake may have loosened the ground.
They are advising people in the areas to stay away from places at risk of mudslides and stay on the alert for stormy winds and avalanches.
The low-pressure system is expected to develop to 944 hectopascals by Tuesday morning, when it reaches the Sea of Okhotsk. The atmospheric pressure would have then dropped by 50 hectopascals in 24 hours.
Winds of up to 108 kilometers per hour are expected in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido through Tuesday while winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour are forecast for the regions of Tohoku and Kanto-Koshin. Hokuriku, Tokai and Kinki will see winds of nearly 83 kilometers per hour while northern Kyushu will experience winds of 72 kilometers per hour.
Maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 152 kilometers per hour are expected.
Strong winds are expected to continue until Wednesday.
Weather officials are warning of a higher risk of inundation due to storm surges along the coasts of Tohoku and Hokkaido.
Heavy snow is expected from Tuesday through Thursday. In the 24 hours until late Tuesday afternoon, snow of up to 40 centimeters is expected in Hokkaido, 35 centimeters in Kanto-Koshin, 30 centimeters in Tohoku, Hokuriku and Tokai, and 10 centimeters in Kinki.
Blizzards are forecast for Hokkaido and Tohoku until Wednesday. Weather officials are calling on people to stay alert for disruption to traffic due to blizzards, as well as snowy winds, high waves and storm surges.