Powerful typhoon closing in on southern Japan

Stay safe buddies!!

It's now 925hpa, it was 955 a couple days ago...it's strong right now..hope it loses some of it's steam before it gets here. Kyushu doesn't need any more flooding.

September had so much rain, and now it seems October is following it.

A powerful typhoon was heading for Japan’s southernmost Okinawa island chain on Monday, packing powerful winds that forced flight cancellations.

Actually it is not heading for Japan's sothernmost OKINAWA island chain, which would be the Yaeyama island chain, and but is is headed headed for Japan's southernmost island chain, Okinawa.

Big storms regularly strike Japan, with 22 people killed when Typhoon Lionrock pounded the country last month, while another person was killed when Typhoon Malakas also ripped across the country in September.

No, big storms like these regularly strike the prefecture of Okinawa, and not mainland. And please don't try to infer that the loss of lives was due to a frequent strong storm. Lionrock was a unique and pretty much one of a kind storm that hit mainland. Storms like that DO NOT regularly hit mainland Japan.

No need to fear monger here, prepare right, you'll be fine!

In Ishigaki (Okinawa) at the moment. Great weather yesterday, sunburn today and strong winds perfect for windsurfing.

@Dan Lewis: showoff ;)

Okinawa can't get a break from typhoons, I hope the houses there are built to last.

Now 915 hpa.

Typhoons recently have not been hitting Tokyo too bad. Lets hope this one forces companies and schools here in the Tokyo area to call a day off. We could all use a day off.

Just arrived in FUK for a few days of site visits, looks like its LITERALLY going to be a wash...........

Been way way too much rain this Sept, there are overwhelming occurrences of oddball weather, all over the place, folks who still don't think climate & weather patterns aren't changing................

Like Rana said, stay SAFE!

Okinawa can't get a break from typhoons, I hope the houses there are built to last.

Steel reinforced concrete block...yeah our houses are built to last. Typically we dont have folks trying to climb on the roof to nail town roof tiles, as the overwhelming majority of houses have a concrete slam roof, as typhoons go, so far at least, this one is really nothing...so far that is. Biggest problem for many, including us, is power outages. But even those only last a day or two at the most.

It's a compact typhoon and it looks as if the eye is going to pass south of the main island.

windyty.com shows it will not hit Kyushu. Veers left to Pusan then pops up to Niigata and by the time it hits land it will be weaker. No problem I hope.

windyty.com shows it will not hit Kyushu

NHK, the JMA, and the US Navy disagree...just have to wait and see.

Time for another bath

Jumped to a Cat 5 Super-Typhoon within the past 2 hours, dropped to 905 mbs with top gusts between 85 to 90 m/s. Thankfully it isn't hitting us directly, but I am concerned about friends and family on Kume Island which sits directly in it's track.

Here on Okinawa it really isnt so bad (yet) and hopefully it doesnt turn west.

Now at 905 hpa.

My son is a marine at the base, please Dear Lord keep everyone safe

Papigiulio: "Okinawa can't get a break from typhoons,"

Yes and no. This year was the first time on record no typhoons hit until September -- since then they've been pounded.

" I hope the houses there are built to last."

Better built than others. But ultimately if the storm's bad enough...

Anyway, it's been the longest spell of rainy weather (there has yet to be a full day without) since I recall in my time here; rainier than most rainy seasons, too. Take care, peeps.

Now at 905 hPa

I haven't seen one this strong headed this way in a while. The one that hit China last week was 850, I can't imagine that..I hope it doesn't strengthen any further.

One typhoon after another. Is this a record this year for the number of typhoons? My wife told me it will be 33C tomorrow. That is truly warm for beginning of October. Love the cooler nights. Maybe this is the last typhoon. Stay safe everyone!

The one that hit China last week was 850, I can't imagine that..I hope it doesn't strengthen any further.

It did not drop to 850.....that would have made it a catastrophic level storm, go check your data.

It may have been while it was quite a ways from the coast, but it was reported at one point that it was that low. My husband and I said 'What the hell?' at the same time. It was 890 when it hit land, but on one of the morning news shows it said it was 850. They may have made a mistake, but I know what they said, and I read on the screen.

It may have been while it was quite a ways from the coast, but it was reported at one point that it was that low. My husband and I said 'What the hell?' at the same time. It was 890 when it hit land, but on one of the morning news shows it said it was 850. They may have made a mistake, but I know what they said, and I read on the screen.

Maybe you need to check your glasses?

The JMA estimated peak 10-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 890 hPa (mbar; 26.28 inHg),[167] while the JTWC estimated peak 1-minute sustained winds of 305 km/h (190 mph).[168] Based on the JMA pressure estimate, Meranti was among the most intense tropical cyclones. The JTWC wind estimate made Meranti the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2016, surpassing Cyclone Winston, which had winds of 285 km/h (180 mph) when it struck Fiji in February.[169]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Pacific_typhoon_season

Anyway, it's been the longest spell of rainy weather (there has yet to be a full day without) since I recall in my time here; rainier than most rainy seasons, too. Take care, peeps.

You obviously do not live in Okinawa. Not just for this here above, but below as well, we certainly have not been pounded and no it is not the first time that no typhoons have hit either.

This year was the first time on record no typhoons hit until September -- since then they've been pounded.

Moderator: Telling someone "Maybe you need to check your glasses" is really impolite. Please lift the level of your comments.