Severe Tropical Storm Surigae likely to approach Okinawa

Japanese weather officials expect Severe Tropical Storm Surigae to approach Okinawa Prefecture with a strong intensity by around Monday.

A warning has been issued for high waves and strong winds.

Meanwhile, a seasonal rain front is expected to linger over or near Honshu main island into next week. People in Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures, which were hit by record-breaking rainfall, are advised to check the latest weather information.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says that as of 3 p.m. Saturday, Surigae was moving north-northwest over waters south of Okinawa at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour.

The storm has a central atmospheric pressure of 996 hectopascals. It is packing sustained winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts peaking at 126 kilometers per hour.

Surigae is expected to continue moving northward and come close to Okinawa while maintaining a strong intensity by around Monday. The storm is then expected to approach the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Winds are expected to gradually intensify in Okinawa.

A maximum sustained wind speed of about 83 kilometers per hour and peak gust speeds of 126 kilometers per hour are expected in the prefecture on Sunday. On Monday, a maximum sustained wind speed of about 83 kilometers per hour and peak gust speeds of 126 kilometers per hour are expected in the prefecture and Kagoshima's Amami region.

Waves could reach six meters in height off Okinawa on Sunday.

People in Okinawa and the Amami region are urged to remain vigilant against high waves and to take precautions against strong winds, landslides and other storm-related hazards.

Weather officials are calling on people to check the latest weather information as there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the storm's projected path from the second half of next week onward.

Meanwhile, the seasonal rain front is bringing developed rain clouds to Kyushu, Shikoku and other regions. In Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, 34.5 millimeters of rain was recorded in a one-hour period through 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Rainfall also temporarily intensified from the early hours of the morning in the Kanto region, with heavy rain falling in Chiba Prefecture.

The seasonal front is gradually moving southward, but heavy rain could fall in western Japan and other areas through Sunday. People are advised to take precautions against landslides and other hazards. The front is expected to remain over or near Honshu into next week. Rain is more likely to fall in eastern and western Japan.

In Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures, the ground has become saturated and levees have been damaged in places, increasing the risk of disasters even if the rainfall is less than normal for this time of year.

People are advised to check the latest weather information.