Rainy season arrives with early intensity
Large parts of Japan are now in the rainy season, and hazards like floods and landslides can develop in a flash. NHK World meteorologist Jonathan Oh tells us what to expect and how to prepare.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
2 days ago
- NHK
Rainy season arrives with early intensity
Large parts of Japan are now in the rainy season, and hazards like floods and landslides can develop in a flash. NHK World meteorologist Jonathan Oh tells us what to expect and how to prepare.
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Japan Times
Rainy season officially underway across most of country
The Meteorological Agency announced Tuesday that the Kanto-Koshin and Hokuriku regions have 'likely entered the rainy season,' marking the beginning of sustained wet weather across most of the country. The declaration follows Monday's announcement for the Tokai, Kinki, and Chugoku regions. The northern Kyushu and Shikoku regions entered the rainy season on Sunday while the season ended in Okinawa the same day, the agency said. Southern Kyushu's rainy season began unusually early, on May 16. The seasonal rain front is forecast to linger over Honshu, bringing repeated rounds of rainfall to both western and eastern Japan. It is expected to remain especially active through Wednesday, with heavy rain likely in areas including Kanto-Koshin and Hokuriku. Western Japan faces a particularly high risk of torrential downpours. While the front may temporarily weaken after Wednesday, forecasters expect it to strengthen again around Saturday, coinciding with the likely start of the rainy season in the Tohoku region. On Tuesday morning, northern Kyushu saw especially intense rain, prompting the Meteorological Agency to warn of a potential linear rainband forming later in the day. In the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Wednesday, up to 180 millimeters of rain is forecast in northern Kyushu, 150 mm in the Kinki region, and 120 mm across Chugoku and southern Kyushu. Between 6 a.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday, up to 60 mm of rain is expected in northern Kyushu. With the seasonal rains now in full swing, authorities are urging residents to remain on alert for landslides, river overflows, and flooding in low-lying areas such as underpasses. Officials recommend preparing emergency supplies, confirming multiple evacuation routes that avoid flood-prone zones, and clearing gutters and drains of debris to reduce risk before heavy rainfall begins. Information from Jiji added
NHK
3 days ago
- NHK
Downpours hitting southwestern Japan, landslide alerts issued
The seasonal rain front and developed rainclouds brought intermittent downpours to southwestern Japan on Tuesday morning. The Japan Meteorological Agency says warm humid air was flowing toward the front stretching from northern Kyushu to near the Shikoku region, creating unstable atmospheric conditions in western and eastern Japan. In the hour until 11 a.m., heavy rainfall of 38 millimeters was logged in Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and 34 millimeters was recorded in Kusu Town, Oita Prefecture. Weather officials say previous precipitation has considerably increased the risk of landslides in Fukuoka and Oita prefectures and have issued alerts in some areas. The front is expected to stay near the Kyushu region until Wednesday. A band of heavy rain clouds bringing extremely heavy precipitation could form by late Tuesday afternoon, especially in Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita and Kumamoto prefectures. Downpours with lightning could hit localized areas outside Kyushu in western and eastern Japan. The maximum rainfall forecast in the 24 hours until Wednesday morning is for 180 millimeters in northern Kyushu, 150 millimeters in Kinki and 120 millimeters in southern Kyushu and the Chugoku region. The agency is advising people in northern Kyushu to be careful of landslides and flooding in low-lying areas and rivers. Meanwhile, the seasonal rain front and humid air has also brought precipitation to the Kanto-Koshin and Hokuriku regions. The agency announced on Tuesday that the rainy season appears to have arrived in these regions, as rainy and cloudy conditions are expected to continue over the next seven days. The rainy season has arrived in the Kanto-Koshin region three days later than a normal year, but 11 days earlier than last year. In the Hokuriku region, it is one day earlier than usual and 12 days earlier than 2024.
