Ocassional Updates: go to the bottom of the page

JMA said that "very large" and "very strong" typhoon Ma-on is expecting to get closer or land Japan between July 19 and 21 (Tue - Thu) (* revised). NHK reports a couple people were killed due to high wave today.

NHK said this typhoon is extremely strong. Moreover, the typhoon moves very slow. Some area may experience strong wind and rain for a long time.

NHK also warns people if they feel the danger, don't hesitate to evaculate to nearby evaculation center BEFORE the rain and wind get stronger..

As on July 17 evening, it's approaching Daito Island, Okinawa, Japan.

NHK said a couple people were drawn to death including a child on July 17 although it was sunny. They suspect that it may be because of the higher wave from Ma-on.

What to prepare

In case of typhoon disaster

• Know nearby evaculation center
• Tell your friends and family to get contact point besides telephone
  • YokosoNews recommend
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Skype
    • NOT cellular phone or landline
    • Telephone line should be used for immediate emergency calls
• Buy a portable radio and batteries
• Don't leave any easy-to-be-flown objects outside of your house
• Check the weather forecast extra carefully and more frequently
• Expect the delays or cancellations of the public transportation and road closure

What not to do

• Don't go close to river
• Don't go close to ocean
• Don't go close to mountain or cliff where the possibility of landslide

Useful weather info sites

• JMA Tropical Cyclone Information
• JMA Weather Warnings / Advisory

If the typhoon gets serious, YokosoNews will provide up-to-date weather forecast via Twitter and Facebook, and may start emergecy broadcast at YokosoNews.tv .

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Updates

Date and time is in Japan Standard Time

3:19pm - July 21, 2011

As at 3pm, Ma-on was located 260km South of Hachijo Island on Pacific Ocean, moving to South East in 20km/h. Its center pressure is 985 hPa and the max wind gust speed was weakened to 35 m/sec (70 kt).

Ma-on will shift the direction to north east and move along the east of Honshu Island.

The most of the threat have passed. But JMA still gives cautions against landslides among unstable area, and warnings for marine weather around east of Japan.

YokosoNews now concludes the periodical updates of Typhoon Ma-on as the most of major threat has passed.

Ma-on has been responsible for 1 death and 62 injuries, and some damages to levees in Shikoku, flooding over dozen houses in Shikoku and Kinki, landslides in various locations and a fishing port in Mie,

7:09pm - July 20, 2011

NHK & JMA said Ma-on is moving East on the south of Shizuoka Pref. The most of the threat in Shikoku, Kinki and Tokai region had passed. The wind strength is now weakened.

Ma-on still bring unstable weather to Kanto (Tokyo) and Tohoku. The unstable weather may bring very localized rain (or so-called "guerrilla rain") by tomorrow morning.

JMA also warns that from Southern to Central Japan will be very hot and sunny day, and it tells people preapre against heat stroke tomorrow.

NHK said the slow moving and large scale typhoon bring the warm and most wind from Pacific Ocean to many part of Japan especially Shikoku, which resulted in over 1000 mm of rainfall.

From this typhoon, the rainfall caused the most damage in Shikoku region. It also caused landslides and damages in Mie & Shizuoka Pref.

As at 7pm, Ma-on caused 1 death and 60 injuries.

4:20am - July 20, 2011

NHK said over 2,600 are evaculated to the nearby community centers. Many public transportations are going to cancel today's operation as well as road closure mainly in Tokai area.

3:30am - July 20, 2011

At 12am Ma-on landed the south of Tokushima Pref. It's now moving slowly to NNE and brings the large amount of rainfall to Shikoku and Tokai area as at 3am.

Today, JMA predicts that Ma-on slowly travel across Wakayama, Nara and Mie Pref.

JMA: 3 day-forcast of Typhoon Ma-on

JMA: 5 day-forcast of Typhoon Ma-on

The center pressure is 965 hPa & the max wind gust speed was 55 m/sec (105 kt).

Some area of Wakayama and Mie has high possibility of flooding.

Many part of West to East Japan have the possibility of land slides (which are Kochi, Tokushima, Shiga, Nara, Wakayama, Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Gifu, Shizuoka, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Yamanashi and Fukushima.)

Umaji-mura, Kochi broke the rainfall record which was 851.5 mm on July 19.

JMA warns for strong wind, high tide, landslide, flooding and high wave. And there maybe the possibility of thunder and tornade.

7:49am - July 19, 2011

JMA said Ma-on is located 150 km south of Ashizuri Cape, Kochi, Japan at 7am. The center pressure was 955 hPa and the max wind gust speed was 60 m/sec (115 kt).

Currently, the storm area is aproaching Kochi and Miyagi, and the Typhoon clouds are bringing rains to West and East Japan.

Some areas in Shikoku had the total of 600 mm of rainfall and their lands may be unstable now.

Typhoon Ma-on will be closer to Shikoku and Kinki (Kansai) area through July 20. It may bring rains and wind for a long period of time. Some area may experience 50-70 mm/hr of strong rains.

JMA predicts that Shikoku, Kinki (Kansai) and Tokai area may have the total of 800 mm of rainfall, Kanto (Tokyo) area may have 250 mm, and Kyushu may have 200 mm of rainfall throughout the storm.

People needs to pay attention to the strong wind, flooding and, high wave on the Pacific Ocean side as much as 12 m.

Also there are tornado warnings in some areas.

Make sure to check the weather warnings of your area from JMA

There are a number of cancellations of domestic flights this morning. If you're planning to come to Japan, you should check the airline's website as well as other public transportations and road closures.

8:24pm - July 18, 2011

Various warnings has been issued throughout Japan, mainly in Kyushu, Shikoku and Pacific Ocean side of Honshu (Main Island).

JMA said Ma-on may bring the record number of rain and wind to Kyushu, Shikoku and/or Honshu area. The people who lives near river, and ocean should be careful with the amount of rain.

NHK said, all airline companies will make the announcement about the flights schedule of July 19 by 9pm tonight.

NHK also warns people for the high wave. Some places may be 12m high.

Witihn 24 hours, Shikoku may face 600 millimeter (23.6 inc), Kinki & Tokai may be 500 (19.6) millimeter. South Kyushu may have 400 millimeter and North Kyushu may be 300 millimeter of rainfall.

Typhoon Ma-on moves very slow, and it's hard to predict. Now JMA said it may take 3 days to pass Main Island of Japan through July 21.

Overall, Ma-on could bring 1,000 millimeter (39 inc) of rainfall.

According to JMA, last time, Japan experienced the 1,000 millimeter of rainfall was by Typhoon Flo (9019) in 1990. According to Wikipedia, 44 people were killed and over 66,000 houses were flooded by Typhoon Flo.

Check the current status of Ma-on via JMA's tropical cyclone information.