Weather Officials Warn Of More Downpours Through Saturday
Weather authorities in Japan are urging people across wide areas to take precautions against torrential rain expected through Saturday.
The Meteorological Agency is advising people to check the latest weather information and follow any evacuation advisories issued by local authorities.
Officials are warning of landslides, swollen rivers and flooding in low-lying areas, as well as strong winds and tornados, in regions already hit by rain storms or where heavy rain is forecast.
In the 24 hours through Saturday evening, up to 250 millimeters of rain is expected in northern and southern Kyushu. Up to 150 millimeters is expected in two western regions and the northeastern region of Tohoku. Up to 120 millimeters is forecast in the Tokai region, and up to 100 millimeters elsewhere.
The risk of rain-triggered disasters is increasing in Miyagi Prefecture in the northeast. Bands of heavy rain clouds are also expected to develop over the southwestern island of Kyushu and the western prefecture of Yamaguchi through Saturday morning.
Officials say hourly precipitation of more than 50 millimeters accompanied by lightning strikes could hit localized areas in the west and north.
They say warm and moist air feeding into a rain front is causing the unstable atmospheric conditions.
They say the front is likely to remain through Sunday.
Hourly precipitation of about 100 millimeters in Miyagi Prefecture on Friday night prompted weather officials to issue "information on record hourly rainfall."