NHK

Severe Tropical Storm Lan expected to approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands, Honshu

A severe tropical storm is expected to approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands in the Pacific Ocean later this week and the country's main island of Honshu next week.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says Severe Tropical Storm Lan was slowly moving west at 15 kilometers per hour over waters near the Ogasawara Islands at midnight Wednesday.

Lan had a central atmospheric pressure of 985 hectopascals. It was packing winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour near its center, and peak gusts of 126 kilometers per hour.

The storm is expected to move northwest while developing and come close to the Ogasawara Islands through Saturday.

Extremely strong winds are expected to blow over the islands with maximum speeds of 79 kilometers per hour on Thursday. Winds of up to 90 to 104 kilometers per hour are possible on Friday.

The storm is expected to approach the Izu Islands between Sunday and Monday, bringing violent winds.

The waters will also be rough near the Ogasawara Islands through Saturday and near the Izu Islands through Monday.

The Ogasawara Islands are likely to have heavy rainfall through Saturday. Up to 100 to 200 millimeters of rain is forecast in the 24 hours through Friday evening. About the same amount of rainfall is possible in the following 24-hour period through Saturday evening.

Weather officials are warning residents of violent winds, high waves, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

The Izu Islands are likely to have heavy rainfall around Monday.

Lan is expected to move further north, while maintaining its strength. Although its exact course remains uncertain, the storm could approach eastern and western Japan next week.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230810_04/