Sts Dolphin Moving North Off Eastern Japan
Severe Tropical Storm Dolphin could bring downpours to the eastern part of the country through Friday. Weather officials are urging people to stay on alert for possible mudslides and flooding in low-lying areas, as well as gusts and high waves.
The Meteorological Agency says the storm was 200 kilometers east-northeast of Hachijojima Island as of the start of Thursday, Japan time. It was moving northeast at a speed of about 30 kilometers per hour.
The storm has a central atmospheric pressure of 985 hectopascals and is packing maximum winds of 90 kilometers per hour.
The storm is expected to move north over waters east of Kanto and Tohoku on Thursday and Friday.
The Pacific coast of Kanto and Tohoku can expect heavy rain.
Up to 180 millimeters of rain may fall in some parts of Kanto and Tohoku during the 24 hours ending late Thursday.
Tohoku can expect another 100 to 150 millimeters of rain from Thursday evening through Friday evening, and Hokkaido 50 to 100 millimeters.
Along the Pacific on Thursday, maximum winds of 90 kilometers per hour are expected in Kanto, over 80 in the Izu Islands and over 70 in Tohoku.
The Pacific coast of Tohoku and Hokkaido could have maximum winds of 72 to 86 kilometers per hour on Friday.
Seas will be rough, with high waves in these areas.
