Powerful typhoon lashes southwest Japan; expected to make landfall Thursday

Wednesday 07th October, 06:05 AM JST

TOKYO —

A very strong typhoon in the Pacific may be taking a ‘‘quite dangerous’’ course and could sweep across large swaths of the Japanese archipelago as it is expected to become the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Japan in two years on Thursday, a weather agency official said Wednesday.

Typhoon Melor caused more than 240 flights to be canceled Wednesday, mainly in Kyushu and western Japan, and a further 260 are expected to be canceled Thursday, according to airlines.

The season’s 18th typhoon is likely to make landfall on or around the Kii Peninsula in western Japan on Thursday and travel northward across Honshu Island through Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

‘‘It is expected to take a quite dangerous course that will require caution across Japan,’’ Akira Murakami, a senior weather forecaster from the agency, said at a press conference.

He warned in particular of damage from strong winds heavy rain, high tides and rough waves.

The government has set up a liaison office at the prime minister’s office.

The typhoon was traveling north-northeast at about 230 kilometers south of Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture at a speed of 40 km per hour at 9 p.m. and with a maximum wind velocity of 162 kph around its center, the agency said.

The typhoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Kyushu and western Japan, also affected some train runs on Wednesday.

The last typhoon to make landfall in Japan was in September 2007, the agency said. No typhoon made landfall last year for the first time in eight years.

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 115 Total Comments Show All

tokyonice at 01:52 AM JST - 8th October

I'm beginning to wonder if the Japanese have any idea at all what a typhoon really is. They give relentless coverage and fearful warnings, yet all you ever see is just a little extra rain. Even their reporters out in the field, are simply exposed to a bit of rain, and they harp on about how many milimetres have fallen. What a complete waste of time ! So that's why some of us gaijins would like to see some real 'action'.
cleo at 02:01 AM JST - 8th October

A hurricane is a typhoon that happens somewhere else.

My town gets very few typhoons blowing through, yet we've still had our share of trees blown down, garden sheds blown over and roofs blown off. There'll be no complaints from me if this one doesn't live up to the relentless coverage and fearful warnings. Don't need no 'real action' from typhoons, thank you very much.

As I write the wind is getting up outside. Gaahh
tokyonice at 02:05 AM JST - 8th October

I'll give this one some credit though. The wind is blowing and the rain is heavy over here in Ueno. Come on Baby... Bring it on !
smithinjapan at 02:10 AM JST - 8th October

tokyonice: "I'm beginning to wonder if the Japanese have any idea at all what a typhoon really is."

They do, and have learned the hard way many times. I have a few friends who have lost loved ones in typhoons, and they don't deserve to be laughed at or told they don't know what a typhoon really is.

"They give relentless coverage and fearful warnings, yet all you ever see is just a little extra rain."

Japan is no stranger to media hype, to be sure, but one reason you see less damage done in Japan is because there are better, stronger buildings (in most cases, not all), and perhaps even BECAUSE of countless warnings by the media.

Of course, you can never really know what's coming -- the people in Manilla didn't expect, I'm sure, a month's rain in six hours -- and I suppose it's better to hunker down and be ready. The alternative is to say, "What an awful storm" while looking at damage that could have been prevented through information.

Anyway, I'm not saying more deaths/damage can always be prevented, but in storms like these they can be. True, it's not as bad as they've been making out, and most news seems to be changing its tone, but I'd rather have that than hear it's nothing big and the top of houses flying off.
cleo at 02:21 AM JST - 8th October

I just hope we don't have any ojiisans climbing up to fix the roof in the middle of the storm, or going out to 'check on the fields', or younger fools going off to watch the killer waves.

Stay home, stay safe. And laugh about it all afterwards.
kavikahi at 02:45 AM JST - 8th October

mmm, the typhoon is north of us or we are in the eye, no trees down on my stroll to the conbini. My dwelling is well protected from wind but it was whipping. GOOD MORNING TOKYO!
Farmboy at 03:41 AM JST - 8th October

This ojisan needs to fix the roof, as the water is dripping in the hallway. Ah well, the bucket is in place, and the towels are down. Pretty windy and very rainy here...nice howling sound effects.
Ranger_Miffy at 04:37 AM JST - 8th October

How do I find out if the trains (especially mine this morning) are cancelled? How do I find out if my university has cancelled classes?

Train lines out of Tokyo-eki: Tokaido (cancelled for sure as it stops at every excuse), and the Yokosuka-sen.

University: Meiji Gakuin in Totsuka.
Hephatsheput at 06:01 AM JST - 8th October

It's already been downgraded to tropical storm status and there is no more rain falling in Kanto.
IvanCoughalot at 06:53 AM JST - 8th October

Oh look, it isn't even raining. The sun is coming out, but the ground is a bit wet. What a terrible natural disaster we all just went through.

So, about that bet...
LoveUSA at 07:07 AM JST - 8th October

Has the typhoon passed? It never came???? I am so confused, I was bracing for the the most terrible typhoon in 15 years.
Torgo at 08:59 AM JST - 8th October

Ranger Miffy, you might try the JR East Information page (though it's down at the moment) or http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/index.html, but that's not loading at the moment either.
efftta at 09:37 AM JST - 8th October

How do I find out if the trains (especially mine this morning) are cancelled? How do I find out if my university has cancelled classes?

On the JR East website here - http://traininfo.jreast.co.jp/train_info/kanto.aspx
efftta at 09:39 AM JST - 8th October

From my balcony I haven't seen any Shonan Shinjuku, Yokosuka, Yamanote, NEX or Saikyo lines going past in the last 40 minutes, so I'm presuming they are all stopped.
dbung10 at 09:53 AM JST - 8th October

All the overland trains going in to Shimbashi eki have stopped. you cant even buy a ticket. You can get an apology from a guy with a megaphone standing 1 foot away from you though! Subway lines are all going but prepare for an unpleasant journey....