Tropical Storm Nangka Hits Japan With Flooding Rain, Damaging Winds

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

July 16,2015; 11:10PM,EDT

 

Once a typhoon, Nangka made landfall in Japan late Thursday evening local time and will continue to pose life-threatening conditions through at least Friday as it unleashes flooding rain and damaging winds.
Nangka made landfall in the eastern part of Shikoku island with a strength equal to that of a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific (maximum sustained winds of 119-153 kph or 74-95 mph).
Satellite images of Nangka are courtesy of NOAA.
"Based on radar images, Nangka made landfall late Thursday evening local time in eastern Shikoku island," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey. "Sustained winds of 55 mph occurred near landfall in Muroto, Japan."
Torrential rain will batter Japan through Friday with the worst conditions closer to the site of Nangka's landfall.

Shikoku and neighboring parts of Kyushu and southern Honshu will face Nangka's damaging winds and flooding rain through early Friday. Residents should heed evacuation orders to protect lives and property.
Oita, Kochi, Okayama and Osaka are among the cities in the path of Nangka's fury.
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Though the threats posed by storm surge flooding have largely abated, rough surf will impact much of the Japan coastline and create life-threatening conditions for anyone who attempts to enter the water.
Of the many threats that Nangka brings to Japan, flash flooding will remain one of the most dangerous elements.
Nangka threatens to unleash between 150 and 300 mm (6 and 12 inches) of rain in and around Shikoku. Duffey is concerned for significantly higher amounts in localized areas, especially in the mountainous terrain. That amount of rain is sure to trigger life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
The threat of heavy rain and localized flooding will extend well away from where Nangka comes onshore.
As of early Thursday night, Nangka has already produced 155 mm (6.2 inches) of rain in Kumagaya, Japan, northwest of Tokyo. Closer to landfall, 293 mm (11.7 inches) of rain inundated Owase, Japan.

The Greater Tokyo Area has received more than 50 mm (2 inches) from a heavy rain band that set up across eastern Honshu on Thursday, but new rainfall into Friday should not be as significant.
Impacts from Nangka will be mainly limited to Japan, though a few showers and higher surf will occur in eastern South Korea from Thursday night into Friday.
Residents of Japan and South Korea should continue to check back with AccuWeather for the latest details on this dangerous storm.
AccuWeather Meteorologists Andy Mussoline and Eric Leister contributed to this story.