Typhoon Ampil rapidly strengthened on Thursday as it moved north toward Japan, with the storm set to bring heavy rain and strong winds — on par with a Category 2 hurricane — to the Izu Islands and coastal areas of the Kanto and Tohoku regions.
While the storm is not forecast to make landfall, it's on course to deliver violent winds, heavy rain and rough seas from Thursday to Saturday, with up to 200 millimeters of rainfall expected in some areas over a 24-hour period. Ampil, which the weather agency classified as "very strong" on Thursday night, will make its nearest approach to the Kanto and Tohoku regions beginning on Friday.
The Meteorological Agency has urged those in affected areas to stay on high alert for strong winds, high waves, landslides, and flooding in low-lying areas due to the heavy rain.
Transportation networks across eastern Japan are set to be severely disrupted, complicating travel during the busy end of the Bon holiday period. The Tokaido Shinkansen will suspend operations between Tokyo and Nagoya for the entire day on Friday. Trains between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka stations will also be significantly reduced.
JR East’s shinkansen lines will also be severely disrupted Friday. Services will be suspended from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, Koriyama and Nasushiobara stations on the Tohoku line. On the Yamagata line, services will be suspended between Tokyo and Fukushima and Yamagata. The Joetsu line will not be running between Tokyo and Niigata. The Akita and Hokuriku lines are also expected to suffer significant delays and cancellations.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have already canceled 600 flights to and from Haneda and Narita airports as of Thursday evening, according to NHK.
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, Ampil was moving northward from its position south-southwest of Hachijojima at 20 kph, with a central pressure of 950 hectopascals.
As the typhoon moves closer to the Kanto region on Friday, it is expected to have a central pressure of 940 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds at its center of 162 kph and gusts of up to 234 kph.
Heavy rain is also anticipated. The Kanto region and Izu Islands are expected to see 200 millimeters of rainfall in the 24 hours through noon Friday.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue into Saturday. The Kanto and Tohoku regions could receive an additional 200 millimeters in the 24 hours through noon.
By Sunday, the typhoon is expected to weaken into a tropical storm as it moves into the eastern seas of Japan.
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