WeatherFanatics: Halong Slams Japan, Threatens Russia Despite Weakening

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Halong Slams Japan, Threatens Russia Despite Weakening

By Adam Douty, Meteorologist

August 10,2014; 10:07PM,EDT

As Halong moved over southern Japan from Saturday into Sunday, local time, it brought drenching rainfall and destructive wind to the country. While moving across southern Japan, Halong weakened due to the interaction with land and lack of warm water.
Despite weakening, Halong still packed a punch across the islands of Shikoku, eastern Kyushu and southern Honshu.
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From NOAA, a less intense Tropical Storm Halong is seen across the Sea of Japan on Sunday night, local time.
From Saturday into Sunday, over 900 mm (35 inches) of rain fell at the Yanase observation site in Kochi Prefecture. During a 9-hour time span Saturday night, 800 mm (31 inches) of rain fell. Not far away, over 600 mm (24 inches) of rain fell in Torigatayam.
Kochi Prefecture is the same region that saw extreme rainfall just a week ago from Tropical Storm Nakri. One location in Kochi Prefecture measured a record 1,186 mm (46.69 inches) in 72 hours, ending on Tuesday, according to information from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Last week, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Eric Leister reported that Nakri brought 250-500 mm (10-20 inches) of rain to some places in Kyushu and Shikoku, according to observation sites across these islands. Multiple locations received more than 10 inches within a single day.
Other impressive rain totals are 533 mm (21 inches) in Tokushima and 518 mm (20 inches) in Owase.
In the Wakayama Prefecture in southern Honshu, the Japan Times reports that the Kumano River in Shingu was flooding the first and second floors of a junior high school. Six locals had to be rescued from the third floor of the building.
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West Pacific Typhoon and Tropical Storm Center
Japan Weather Center
Japan Interactive Radar
Not only was there flooding rainfall, destructive wind also swept across the region. Near the center of the storm at landfall, wind was sustained at 145 kph (90 mph) at the Muroto-misaki observation site. In Tokushima wind gusted to 155 kph (96 mph).
The Japan Times reported as of Sunday, local time, that at least 9 people have died as a result of the tropical storm, two others are missing and dozens are injured.
While the worst of the conditions are in the past for Japan, it will still be windy on Monday across the northern island of Hokkaido, with gusts as high as 50 mph expected. This could cause sporadic power outages and minor damage. Showers will cross the island, but rainfall should not be heavy enough to cause any additional flooding.
Now across the Sea of Japan, cooler water will continue to limit the moisture needed for tropical systems to survive.

Desite the weakening, Halong remains a dangerous storm and will remain so through Monday when it will bring flooding rain and damaging wind to Primorye in southeastern Russia.
Though Halong will technically termed a post-tropical storm, the impacts from Halong in southeastern Russia will be equivalent to a tropical storm. Along the coast wind gusts will reach 70 mph causing downed trees and some structural damage. Further inland, wind will gust as high as 50 mph, which could cause minor damage and power outages.
Rain will total 3-6 inches which will lead to a widespread flooding threat. Close to the coast rainfall is expected to eclipse 6 inches in some areas.
After impacting southeastern Russia on Monday, Halong will rapidly weaken to a remnant low, pulling to the northeast into the Sea on Okhotsk bringing little additional impacts.

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