Sea of Japan: Tropical Storm Lan tracking northward in the Sea of Japan as of late Aug. 15 /update 5

Event

Tropical Storm Lan is tracking northward over the Sea of Japan late Aug. 15, having made landfall over the far southeastern coast of Wakayama Prefecture early Aug. 15. As of 21:00 JST, the system's center of circulation was approximately 324 km (201 miles) northeast of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Forecast models indicate that the storm will gradually weaken into a tropical depression as it tracks north-northeastward and then northeastward across the Sea of Japan Aug. 16-17. The storm is expected to make landfall over Russia's southern Sakhalin Island late Aug. 17-early Aug. 18, before dissipating over the southern Sea of Okhotsk Aug. 18. Uncertainty remains in the track and intensity forecast, and significant changes could occur in the coming days.

As of late Aug. 15, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued purple (the second highest level on a four-tier scale) heavy rain, landslide, and inundation warnings for parts of Gifu, Iwate, Mie, Okayama, Shimane, and Tottori prefectures. Red heavy rain and landslide warnings have been issued for Fukui, Hyogo, Kyoto, southern Mie, and Shiga prefectures and red flood warnings for parts of Fukui, Gifu, and Tottori prefectures. Yellow heavy rain, landslide, flood, storm, storm surge, high wave, and thunderstorm warnings are in place across other parts of central Japan. The JMA has warned that extremely heavy rain has fallen in Tottori Prefecture and further heavy rainfall is expected in parts of the country through at least Aug. 16, especially in Tokai Region. Rainfall totals of 20 cm (10 inches) are forecast in Tokai Region and 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) across much of the rest of central Japan through late Aug. 16.

Authorities have issued emergency safety evacuation orders (the highest level on a three-tier scale) for nearly 200,000 people in Tottori City and Kotoura and Yazu towns in Tottori Prefecture. Evacuation orders have been issued for tens of thousands of people across parts of Gifu, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Okayama, and Tottori prefectures. Officials have advised the evacuation of elderly people for many more areas across parts of central Japan. Authorities have also closed several tourist attractions and postponed a number of sporting and cultural events due to the passing of the storm.

Officials have suspended the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama stations and the Tokaido Shinkansen between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka stations, and reduced the number of trains between Okayama and Hakata stations on the Sanyo Shinkansen and between Tokyo and Nagoya stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen Aug. 15. Operators plan to resume normal operations from Aug. 16. Airlines canceled more than 800 flights at airports across central Japan Aug. 15, including Kansai International (KIX), Haneda (HND), Chubu Centrair International (NGO), Osaka International (IMT), Kobe (UKB), and Shizuoka (FSZ) airports, Aug. 15. Flights are largely expected to return to normal as of Aug. 16; however, at least 20 flights in the affect region have been canceled Aug. 16 and disruptions are possible as operators work through the backlog from previous cancelations.

Authorities have reported at least 57 people have been injured across Aichi, Hyogo, Kagawa, Kyoto, Mie, Osaka, Shiga, and Wakayama prefectures. Several roads and bridges have been damaged by flooding and landslides in Hyogo, Kyoto, and Tottori prefectures, isolating more than 1,000 people. Damage to buildings due to flooding and strong winds has been reported in Kyoto, Mie, Osaka, Tokushima, Tottori, and Wakayama prefectures. As of late Aug. 15, more than 7,000 households in the Kansai region and more than 13,000 households in the Chubu region (mostly in Mie Prefecture) were without power.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and those with easily overwhelmed drainage systems. If weather conditions prove hazardous, localized evacuations, flash flooding, and landslides are possible.

The inclement weather could trigger localized business, transport, and utility disruptions and render some bridges or roadways impassable. Flight disruptions at regional airports and temporary closures of ports are also possible. Stagnant pools of water during and after flooding increase insect- and waterborne diseases, such as dengue fever, cholera, and malaria. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a serious health threat.

Advice

Activate contingency plans in areas where officials forecast tropical storm conditions. Heed any evacuation orders that may be issued. Use extreme caution in low-lying coastal areas and near streams, creeks, and other waterways due to the potential for severe flooding and storm surge. Stockpile water, batteries, and other essentials in advance. Charge battery-powered devices when electricity is available; restrict the use of cellular phones to emergencies only. Power down mobile devices when not in use. Keep important documents and necessary medications in waterproof containers. Observe strict food and water precautions, as municipalities could issue boil-water advisories following flooding events. Take precautions against insect- and waterborne diseases in the coming weeks.

Plan accordingly for protracted commercial, transport, and logistics disruptions in areas in the path of the storm, especially if vital infrastructure is damaged. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where flooding has occurred. Confirm flights before checking out of hotels or driving to the airport; clearing passenger backlogs may take several days in some locations.

Resources

Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)