Downpours Hit Western To Central Japan
Japanese weather officials say heavy downpours have hit from the Kyushu region in southwestern Japan through the Tokai region in central Japan. They warn of more heavy rain there and through northeastern Japan.
Meteorological agency officials say rainclouds developed over parts of Kyushu as well as the Kinki region in western Japan due to a low-pressure system and a rain front.
The officials say radar shows that about 90 millimeters of rain is likely to have fallen over an hour through 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City.
They say bands of active rain clouds formed over Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Saga and Oita prefectures, bringing heavy rain from late Monday through Tuesday morning.
60 millimeters of rainfall was recorded over an hour through 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
In the 24-hour period through 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 243 millimeters of rain fell in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The figure is a record for July, accounting for about 70 percent of the area's average rainfall for the month.
The agency is calling on people to be on high alert for possible landslides and flood.
The officials say extremely unstable atmospheric conditions are expected to continue in western through eastern Japan until Wednesday, bringing sudden downpours.
In the 24-hour period through noon on Wednesday, up to 250 millimeters of rain is expected in southern Kyushu; 200 millimeters in northern Kyushu; 150 millimeters in Kinki and Tokai; 120 millimeters in Shikoku; 100 millimeters in Hokuriku and Kanto-koshin; and 60 millimeters in Chugoku.
The agency is warning of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers. It is urging people to be on alert for lightning and strong gusts of wind.
People are advised to remain cautious even after the rain subsides. There have been cases where landslides occurred or rivers began to overflow a couple of hours after rainfall had weakened.