Heavy rain forecast in western and eastern Japan along Pacific coast on Sunday
Weather officials are warning of torrential rain on the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan through Sunday morning. They are calling on people to be on high alert for possible landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, lightning strikes and gusty winds including tornadoes.
The Meteorological Agency says a low-pressure system accompanied by a front brought rain to western Japan and elsewhere on Saturday morning.
In one hour before and after noon on Saturday, more than 50 millimeters of rain fell in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Rain clouds also developed over the Shikoku region. In Kochi Prefecture, 63 millimeters of rain fell in Tosashimizu City in the one-hour period through 5 p.m.
Kuroshio Town, also in the prefecture, had 46 millimeters of rain between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The low-pressure system is expected to pass over western Japan to eastern Japan through Sunday. A warm, humid air mass will flow in toward the low and the front, making atmospheric conditions extremely unstable.
Some parts of western and eastern Japan, especially along the Pacific coast, may see hourly rainfall of more than 50 millimeters accompanied by localized thunder through Sunday morning.
In the 24 hours through Sunday evening, the Kinki and Tokai regions can expect up to 180 millimeters of rain, and Shikoku will get up to 150 millimeters. Kanto-Koshin will have up to 120 millimeters.
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