At least 11 dead, 14 missing after unprecedented rains hit Japan

At least 11 dead, 14 missing after unprecedented rains hit Japan

At least 11 people have been killed and 14 are still missing as of late Friday, July 7, 2017, after three days of extremely heavy rainfall caused massive floods and landslides in parts of southwest Japan. The rain is still falling throughout the region and many…

Extremely heavy rainfall hits Japan, 398 mm (15.6 inches) within 4 hours

Extremely heavy rainfall hits Japan, 398 mm (15.6 inches) within 4 hours

As of 10:30 JST (01:30 UTC) Thursday, July 6, 2017, about 450 000 people across western Japan were ordered to evacuate their homes and seek shelter, after extremely heavy rains started early Wednesday, July 6, causing major floods and landslides. As of late…

Tropical Storm “Nanmadol” forms, heading toward mainland Japan

Tropical Storm “Nanmadol” forms, heading toward mainland Japan

Tropical Storm "Nanmadol" (05W) formed July 2, 2017 east of Taiwan as the 6th named storm (PAGASA and JMA) of the 2017 Pacific typhoon season. The system is expected to pass over Yaeyama Island group, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan in the hours ahead, bringing…

Okinawa residents capture rare waterspout on camera

Okinawa residents capture rare waterspout on camera

During the afternoon hours of May 15, 2017, residents of Okinawa, Japan were surprised to see a funnel cloud looming just off the coast. The waterspout never touched ground and there are no reports of damage or injuries. The phenomenon was associated with a…

Severe winter storm hits Japan, intense sea-effect snow

Severe winter storm hits Japan, intense sea-effect snow

A major winter storm is affecting the Japanese archipelago Japan this week. The storm is producing typhoon-force winds and prolonged, intense sea-effect snow. Extreme amounts of snow have fallen in parts of Japan and claimed lives of at least 2 people. More than 40…

Rare November snow in Tokyo, the first since 1962

Rare November snow in Tokyo, the first since 1962

Temperatures in central Tokyo have fallen to near zero °C recently, rare for this time of year, and the city today saw its first November snow in 54 years. According to the JMA, this is the first time the snow had fallen in central Tokyo since 1962 and the first…

Extraordinary high pressure pushing a cold surge to Northeast Asia

Extraordinary high pressure pushing a cold surge to Northeast Asia

Intense cold has gripped parts of Northeast Asia, causing severe temperature drops and gusty winds. Near record-breaking high sea level pressure was reported in northern Mongolia on November 21, 2016. Siberia, bordering with Mongolia, is the heart of the Northeast…

Tornado hits Akita city, Japan

Tornado hits Akita city, Japan

An apparent tornado swept the Akita city in northern Japan on October 31, 2016. Several locals reported funnel-like winds which appeared as a tornado while other eyewitnesses describe a twister which appeared suddenly and out of nowhere near the city center. …

Typhoon “Lionrock” about to hit northern Honshu, Japan

Typhoon “Lionrock” about to hit northern Honshu, Japan

Tropical Cyclone "Lionrock," born August 19, is now approaching Japan and is expected to make landfall in northern Honshu around 07:30 UTC on August 30. Its second landfall is expected in extreme southeastern Russia sometime after 18:00 UTC on August 30….

Tropical Storm “Chanthu” hits Japan

Tropical Storm “Chanthu” hits Japan

Tropical Storm "Chanthu" made the first landfall in Japan's Chosi, Chiba prefecture around 18:30 UTC on August 16 (03:30 JST on August 17) and the second near Cape Erimo on the southern tip of the main island of Hokkaido around 08:30 UTC on August 17,…