Over 1 300 structures damaged, 89 people injured as powerful JEF3 tornado hits Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
A powerful JEF3 tornado struck Makinohara and Yoshida in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture on September 5, 2025, injuring at least 89 and damaging over 1 300 structures in the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported peak winds of around 270 km/h (168 mph), making it one of the strongest tornadoes on record in the country.
Tornado damage in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan after JEF3 tornado on September 5, 2025. Credit: ふるさと納税サイト さとふる
A powerful JEF3 tornado struck Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, at 12:50 LT (03:50 UTC) on September 5, injuring at least 89 people and damaging over 1 300 structures. The tornado developed in unstable conditions associated with Tropical Storm Peipah, which made landfall in Kochi Prefecture earlier the same day.
The tornado moved through areas from Makinohara to Yoshida, overturning vehicles, toppling utility poles, and damaging residential and industrial structures.
JMA estimated maximum winds of around 270 km/h (168 mph) and confirmed JEF3 intensity after survey teams documented severe damage, including deformation of the exterior walls of a steel-frame building. JMA officials said that Japan has recorded only 13 JEF3 tornadoes since 1961, with no JEF4 or JEF5 tornadoes ever documented.
According to Shizuoka Prefectural Government, the tornado injured at least 89 people. Eight people sustained serious injuries and 81 were lightly injured. The storm also destroyed 2 houses, severely damaged 117, and partially damaged 1 217 structures.
Local authorities attributed the tornado to the unstable weather condition created by Tropical Storm Peipah, which made landfall in the Kochi Prefecture on September 5. The storm brought heavy rains to parts of the country, including the Shizuoka Prefecture, triggering landslides and flooding in the region.
About 20 minutes before the Makinohara–Yoshida tornado, a separate destructive wind event struck Kakegawa. JMA concluded that this was also a tornado, rating it JEF2 with winds of about 198 km/h (123 mph).
The JMA said when people see cumulonimbus clouds developing, they should move to a safe place, like inside a sturdy building or a spot away from the window as such conditions could lead to a tornado forming nearby.
References:
1 令和７年９月５日に静岡県牧之原市、掛川市及び吉田町で発生した突風について～気象庁機動調査班による現地調査の報告 – JMA – September 8, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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