Heavy Rain May Hit Japan's North As Heat Bakes Kanto Region
Japan's weather officials say unstable atmospheric conditions may bring further record rainfall to the northern region on Tuesday.
The Meteorological Agency says warm and damp air is flowing into a rain front hanging over the Sea of Japan. Developed rain clouds have brought heavy rain sporadically to the Tohoku region.
The agency warns hourly precipitation of more than 80 millimeters may fall in areas along the Sea of Japan in the Tohoku region on Tuesday.
Torrential rain is expected in Hokkaido, the Tohoku region, Niigata Prefecture and parts of western Japan along the Sea of Japan through Wednesday.
Over 24 hours through Tuesday evening, up to 250 millimeters of rain is expected to fall in the western Tohoku region and up to 150 millimeters in Hokkaido and eastern Tohoku. Niigata Prefecture may get up to 80 millimeters.
The agency urges people to be on maximum alert for landslides and warns of swollen rivers, flooding and inundation in low lying areas.
Scorching summer heat is also expected in many parts of Japan on Tuesday.
The daytime high in Maebashi and Kumagaya cities is expected to be 39 degrees Celsius. Temperatures are expected to rise to 38 degrees in Utsunomiya and Saitama cities and 37 degrees in the cities of Oita, Takamatsu and Toyama.
Weather officials are calling on people to stay indoors as much as possible during the day and to avoid strenuous exercise.