Japan: Noru weakens into a tropical storm August 8 /update 4

Event

Despite having weakened into to a tropical storm on Tuesday, August 8, after making landfall in central Japan the day prior, Typhoon Noru continues to drench Japan’s central island of Honshu and has prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents, while sparing the capital Tokyo. The storm’s unusual slowness exacerbates the risk of flooding and subsequent mudslides due to extended heavy rains over one area. Rain has caused some rivers to burst their banks, prompting landslides and injuring around 50 people.

Evacuation orders remain in place for more than 210,000 residents across the territory. No further deaths have been reported other than two over the weekend August 5-6; one on Yaku island and another on Tanegashima island.

Noru is expected to weaken further into a tropical depression on Tuesday before heading out over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday.

Context

Noru made landfall in central Japan on Monday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue warnings for hazardous weather, including violent wind and high waves in coastal areas, as well as torrential rains and subsequent flooding for the following prefectures:  Gunma, Nagano, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Gifu, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama, Hyogo, Tottori, Okayama, Tokushima, Kochi, and Ehime. Roughly 280 flights were canceled on Monday in Shikoku, with 120 canceled flights at Kansai International Airport (KIX).

The Japanese archipelago is significantly affected by the annual Pacific typhoon season, which runs from May to October with a peak of storms in August and September. In July 2017, Tropical Cyclone Nanmadol brought torrential rains and substantial flooding that caused infrastructural damage and left 34 dead in the southern prefectures of Fukuoka and Oita.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to follow local weather forecasts and to adhere to any advice issued by the regional authorities (e.g. potential evacuation orders). Travelers are advised to confirm their flight reservations and to contact their airlines for further details. In the event of flooding, keep in mind that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products.