Published: December 16,2014
A U.S.-bound passenger jet was forced
to make an emergency landing near Tokyo Tuesday night after encountering
severe turbulence while flying through a rapidly intensifying winter
storm. At least 14 people on the flight have been injured, according to
Japan's public broadcaster, NHK.
American Airlines Flight 280, which originated at Incheon International Airport near Seoul, South Korea, was flying east when it hit severe turbulence over the Pacific Ocean just east of Japan. NHK said 10 passengers and four crew members were injured on the plane, which was en route to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
A powerful winter storm is developing over Japan, associated with a powerful ribbon of 150- to 200-mph winds in the jet stream, about 38,000 feet above sea level. The center of low pressure is moving north near the Pacific coast of northern Japan. It is expected to become a meteorological "bomb" as its central pressure plummets to 948 millibars near Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost major island, by Wednesday morning Japanese time (Tuesday evening U.S. time).
The storm itself has prompted blizzard warnings for parts of 10 prefectures in northern and western Japan. On Hokkaido, the town of Shintoku has already reported 22 inches of snow from the storm, including 9 inches of snow in 2 hours.
High wind warnings have been posted for several regions, including coastal areas near Tokyo. Winds have already gusted as high as 93 mph over the Izu Islands just south of Tokyo Bay, where tornado warnings were issued Tuesday evening local time.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says wind gusts could exceed 110 mph on parts of Hokkaido. The bureau has issued storm surge warnings for the Pacific coast of that island, warning that water levels could rise 4 feet above normal tide levels.
This is a developing story. Stay with weather.com and The Weather Channel for further updates.
American Airlines Flight 280, which originated at Incheon International Airport near Seoul, South Korea, was flying east when it hit severe turbulence over the Pacific Ocean just east of Japan. NHK said 10 passengers and four crew members were injured on the plane, which was en route to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
A powerful winter storm is developing over Japan, associated with a powerful ribbon of 150- to 200-mph winds in the jet stream, about 38,000 feet above sea level. The center of low pressure is moving north near the Pacific coast of northern Japan. It is expected to become a meteorological "bomb" as its central pressure plummets to 948 millibars near Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost major island, by Wednesday morning Japanese time (Tuesday evening U.S. time).
The storm itself has prompted blizzard warnings for parts of 10 prefectures in northern and western Japan. On Hokkaido, the town of Shintoku has already reported 22 inches of snow from the storm, including 9 inches of snow in 2 hours.
High wind warnings have been posted for several regions, including coastal areas near Tokyo. Winds have already gusted as high as 93 mph over the Izu Islands just south of Tokyo Bay, where tornado warnings were issued Tuesday evening local time.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says wind gusts could exceed 110 mph on parts of Hokkaido. The bureau has issued storm surge warnings for the Pacific coast of that island, warning that water levels could rise 4 feet above normal tide levels.
This is a developing story. Stay with weather.com and The Weather Channel for further updates.
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