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The characteristic of summer storm of 2011 in Japan seemed to be heavy rain more than the strong wind.

Through Sept 4, Typhoon Talas (2011-12) is approaching Japan through Shikoku and Hiroshima.

The wind is not too strong. However, it has continued to bring a large amount of drops throughout Japan, It also caused some landslides and flooding in Tokyo area, and heavy rainfall in Hokkaido.

Check the prediction map of Talas at Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) website.

At 2pm on Sep 2. NHK warned people to watch out the large amount of rain throughout Japan. The people in Hokkaido should also pay attention to the rainfall.

Heavy rain warning throughout Japan

According to JMA at 2pm on Sep 2, some area may experience as much as 80mm per hour of heavy rain.

Within 24 hours, Tokai (Nagoya) and Kinki (Osaka, Kobe, & Kyoto) area may experience 800 mm of total rainfall.

Shikoku and Kanto (Tokyo) area may experience 500 mm

Chugoku (Hiroshima & Okayama) area may experience 250 mm.

The cloud of Talas already reached Hokkaido and they are already experiencing heavy rain, and one house in Hokkaido is reportedly flooded.

JMA gives the cautions of landislides to the following prefectures:

Tokushima, Wakayama, Nara, Mie, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Iwate and Hokkaido

There are a couple reports of landslides including the school yard in Nabari, Mie.

In Kanto (Tokyo) area, there are also the several reports of flooding and landslide, especially the mountain area.

The strong wind caused some structural damages in Kobe, Osaka and Wakayama.

Traffic and transportation

Some airlines cancelled dozens of flights through Sep 3.

JR stopped some of their services since the morning due to heavy rain.

There are some road closures on express ways.

Please pay attention to the weather forecast and expect some delays.

Preparing against Typhoon

In case of typhoon disaster

• Know nearby evacuationn 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 landslides.

Useful weather info sites

• JMA Tropical Cyclone Information
• JMA Weather Warnings / Advisory

Ask YokosoNews

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

You're welcome to leave a  comment in this page, Facebook or mention @YokosoNews on Twitter if you want to know about the particular region.

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