Japan: Typhoon Noru makes landfall in central region August 7 /update 3

Event

Typhoon Noru made landfall in central Japan on Monday, August 7, 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.

Parts of southern Japan already experienced significant rain and strong winds on Saturday, as Typhoon Noru moved towards the country. No further deaths have been reported other than two over the weekend August 5-6; one on Yaku island and another on Tanegashima island. Parts of Shikoku were hit with 5.2 cm (2.1 in) of rain in one hour on Monday morning, with some part of central Japan likely to receive 50 cm (20 in) of rain in the 24 hours leading to Tuesday due to the storm’s unusual slowness, which exacerbates the risk of flooding and subsequent mudslides due to extended heavy rains in one area.

Context

Typhoon Noru temporarily evolved into a “super typhoon” with maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) on July 30 before weakening somewhat. 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.