Typhoon Soulik Seen Approaching Southern Kyushu

August 21, 2018

Tokyo- Strong Typhoon Soulik is forecast to approach the southern part of the Kyushu southwestern Japan region and the Amami islands from Tuesday evening through night, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Monday.

The agency called for strong caution over heavy rain, high tides and powerful winds from this year's 19th typhoon.

The typhoon is expected to head northwest off the western coast of Kyushu on Wednesday, the agency said.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Cimaron, the 20th typhoon of the year, may make landfall and move across western Japan from Thursday afternoon to Friday, the agency said.

It may then travel close to the Tohoku northeastern region and the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido depending on its route.

In the 24 hours until 6 p.m. Tuesday (9 a.m. GMT), rainfall of up to 200 milliliters is forecast in the Shikoku western region, 150 milliliters in the Tokai central and Kinki western regions, 120 milliliters in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, and 100 milliliters in southern Kyushu and on the Amami islands.

In the following 24 hours, rainfall may reach 300-400 milliliters in southern Kyushu and on the Amami islands, 200-300 milliliters in Shikoku and northern Kyushu, and 100-150 milliliters in Tokai and Kinki.

Through Tuesday, a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 60 meters per second is expected on the Amami islands, 55 meters per second in southern Kyushu, and 35 meters per second in Okinawa.

Waves of up to 11 meters high are forecast in southern Kyushu and the Amami islands, 6 meters in Okinawa, northern Kyushu and Shikoku, and 5 meters in Kinki and Tokai.

As of 9 p.m. Monday, Typhoon Soulik was heading west north-west some 340 kilometers east of Minamidaito Island, east of Okinawa, at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. It had a central atmospheric pressure of 955 hectopascals, a maximum sustained wind speed of 40 meters per second, and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 60 meters per second.

Typhoon Cimaron was traveling west north-west off the Mariana Islands at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It had a central atmospheric pressure of 985 hectopascals, a maximum sustained wind speed of 30 meters per second, and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 40 meters per second. Jiji Press