Typhoons Soulik and Cimaron approach western Japan bringing high waves, strong winds
Storms to deliver one-two punch to the country already hit hard by torrential rain and flooding
Two typhoons are approaching western Japan, including areas already battered by torrential rain and flooding, with the weather agency warning of heavy downpours, strong winds and high waves towards the weekend.
Typhoon Soulik, maintaining its strength and packing gusts of up to 216km/h, is projected to approach the Amami island chain and the southern part of Kyushu, one of Japan’s main islands, on Tuesday.
It was travelling west-northwest in the Pacific Ocean off Okinawa at a speed of 20km/h with an atmospheric pressure of 950 hectopascals at its centre.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts that the typhoon is unlikely to make landfall on Kyushu, moving instead across the sea to its west, but stormy weather is expected in the region.
Typhoon Cimaron, currently located far south of Tokyo, is projected to approach western Japan on Friday and make landfall. While the typhoon is packing gusts of up to 144km/h, the weather agency expects it to strengthen a bit while moving towards the Japanese archipelago.
In July, more than 220 people died as heavy rains hit western Japan, triggering massive flooding and mudslides. The prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Ehime were hit the hardest.
