Northern Kyushu braces for downpours caused by bands of rainclouds
Japan's weather authorities are urging people in the northern part of the Kyushu region, southwestern Japan, to brace for torrential downpours.
They say bands of heavy rainclouds may form over the area through Tuesday evening.
The Meteorological Agency says that warm, moist air is moving toward a seasonal rain front located over northern Kyushu, making atmospheric conditions unstable over the western and eastern parts of Japan.
Heavy rain pounded southern Kyushu on Monday as bands of rainclouds formed over Kagoshima Prefecture.
The city of Ibusuki had 345.5 millimeters of rain, which was the most since record-taking began in 1976.
The agency says the rain front will likely remain stationary near Kyushu through Wednesday.
Bands of heavy rainclouds may form over the prefectures of Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita and Kumamoto through Tuesday evening. Risks of disasters could rise rapidly.
In the 24 hours through Wednesday morning, up to 180 millimeters of rain could fall in northern Kyushu, 150 millimeters in the Kinki region, and 120 millimeters in both southern Kyushu and the Chugoku region.
Weather officials are calling on people to stay on high alert for landslides, floods in low-lying areas and swollen rivers, as well as lightning strikes, gusty winds, and tornadoes.
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