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'Guerrilla rainstorm' caught on camera from Tokyo Skytree

21 Comments

Back in 2006, Japanese mass media began using the term “guerrilla rainstorm” to describe short localized downpours of over 100 mm of rain per hour that appeared suddenly and unexpectedly.

The phenomenon is thought to be a result of rapid development of cumulonimbus clouds near urban areas caused by a combination of heat islands and local winds. The rainstorms have proven incredibly difficult to predict (hence the name “guerrilla”) and are known for causing flash floods in urban areas.

The photo at left is of one such guerrilla rainstorm, taken from Tokyo Skytree on Sept 1.

The photo was posted to Twitter and can best be described as Mother Nature letting it all out on downtown Tokyo.

Several other guerrilla rainstorms were reported around the country on the same day, but it seems this was the only one that was photographed.

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21 Comments
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cool!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

wow

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It just started raining here. How can I tell if it is guerilla rain? Will it try to overthrow other weather forms? Will it try to subvert established language - "It's raining cats and guerillas"... I think we should be told!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

You see this in Florida all the time. And not over big cities.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Squall, in any other parlance. Great photo.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It's raining cats and guerillas

Like it!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It's a "Squall"! why an should an uninformed journalists confuse the JP public and the rest of the world with idiot terms? who needs terms associated with war to describe a weather phenomenon. DROP IT!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Wow wow wow !!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's a "Squall"!

No, the "Guerrilla Rainstorm" is a unique phenomena found only in Japan. Much like Japan's unique four seasons which dictate the rhythms of the Japanese, it is something that foreigners will never be able to understand or appreciate.

Otherwise, its a pretty cool picture!

13 ( +15 / -2 )

It's also obviously a divine punishment.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

'suko-ru' is better? Really? At least 'guerrilla go-u' is an alliteration...

I don't know anyone confused by it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I really wish Japan would use more Japanese language to describe things -- "guerilla rain" is ridiculous, and no doubt within the year it'll be shortened to something like "gueri-re" and people will try using it in English with native speakers not having a clue what they're talking about.

Awesome picture, though!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Mr Anderson, you cracked me up once again!

Looks like Sky Tree is going to shower us with unusual weather phenom photos. Pretty cool.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

How about, "Gusqualla"?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Phenomenal picture!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

First I've heard of it, everyone I know calls it a "geri" rain, which has nothing to do with guerrillas and everything to do with diarrhea.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

It's a heavy downpour. We see this in Okinawa all the time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The weather forecast in Japan is usually pretty accurate, so if they say these rainstorms are hard to predict I'm inclined to believe them.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

short localized downpours

More like "localized torrential downpour"

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Looks like a faucet was turned on over the city. Florida is know for torrential rain & super downpours.

Nothing special

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Looks like Kamisama broke out his/her power-washer again. Somebody's sidewalk near a shrine must have been dirty.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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