A tropical storm approaching Japan's main island of Honshu is already throwing a wrench into the Olympic schedule, with rowing events planned for early next week being moved up as a precaution.
Tropical Storm Nepartak formed Friday about 1,800 kilometers southeast of Honshu. The storm is forecast to approach Honshu over the next several days, with landfall possible on Tuesday or Wednesday. A forecast by the Meteorological Agency shows that the storm is unlikely to strengthen into a typhoon — a level on par with a hurricane — but it could still pack heavy rains and strong winds as it nears Japan.
U.S.-based typhoon expert Robert Speta agrees with the agency forecast, saying that any landfall would likely happen as a tropical storm or even a weaker tropical depression.
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