The Meteorological Agency has called for caution against mudslides and flooding due to a record rainfall in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan.

Weather officials forecast more heavy rain in the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture in northern Japan on Tuesday night.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says its analysis of data collected by a weather satellite shows downpours that devastated a wide area in western Japan in early July were the heaviest in 20 years.

The agency's analysis shows the rainfall during the first 7 days of July in Kyushu and some parts of Chugoku and Shikoku hit a 20-year high for this time of the year.

Weather officials are warning of possible flooding and torrential rain in wide areas of Japan through Wednesday. Record rainfall is expected in the Tokai region in central Japan.

The Meteorological Agency said a rain front and a low-pressure system are creating unstable atmospheric conditions and causing localized downpours across wide areas from western to eastern Japan.