Heavy rains and strong winds are set to lash much of Japan this week with the arrival of tropical storm Jangmi, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Monday.
The typhoon is expected to hit closest to the southernmost part of Okinawa on Monday night before moving to the Amami region in the southwestern part of the country by Tuesday morning.
Authorities have warned people in the affected areas to brace for violent storm winds, high waves, landslides, flooding and overflowing rivers. The agency forecasts maximum winds will reach 70mph on Monday.
The storm will move northeast and approach Kyushu island, Shikoku, Kinki, Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions along the Pacific coast through Wednesday after which the typhoon may weaken, the meteorological agency said.
Parts of southern Australia will also be impacted by similar conditions early this week as the low-pressure system moves eastwards. Densely populated parts of Victoria will see similar severe storms to those that hit western Australia last week.
The tropical storm has prompted prominent airlines, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, to cancel their flights to and from Okinawa.
On Monday afternoon, officials said thick rain clouds are spreading to areas slightly away from the north and east parts of the country and that rain may occur before the typhoon hits due to a front stalled north of the storm.
Officials said a 24-hour rainfall forecast through noon from Monday is 100mm in Okinawa and 80mm in Amami and southern Kyushu. It is expected to rise to 300mm by midday on Tuesday.
The agency said Wednesday will see nearly 300mm of rain in Shikoku and the Kansai region of western Japan and 200mm in central Japan’s Tokai.
The government has set up an information liaison office at the cabinet’s disaster management centre and will coordinate with local governments to share information on evacuation services and weather forecast, chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said.
