Japan faces a potentially unprecedented typhoon season in 2024, with forecasts predicting up to 28 storms affecting the country [1].
This projection signals a severe risk to public safety, national infrastructure, and the tourism industry. The potential for extreme rainfall and landslides could disrupt the movement of millions of people and cause widespread property damage across the main islands.
According to the private weather company Weather News, as many as 14 of these typhoons could make landfall in Japan [1]. This figure is significantly higher than the typical annual average, where fewer than three typhoons make landfall on the Japanese main islands [1]. To put this in perspective, the previous record for the most landfalls in a single year was 10, which occurred in 2004 [1].
While approximately 25 typhoons typically form in the Northwest Pacific each year [1], the 2024 forecast suggests a season of extreme volatility. The company said that the anticipated volume of storms would likely lead to heavy rain, floods, and landslides.
Recent weather events have already demonstrated the vulnerability of Japan's transport network. Earlier in 2024, Typhoon Jangmi caused hundreds of flight cancellations and disrupted Shinkansen and other rail services [1]. That specific storm also triggered maximum flood alerts in several regions [1].
Transportation sectors and tourism operators are now bracing for a repeat of these disruptions on a larger scale. The possibility of 14 landfalls, surpassing the 2004 record by four storms, creates a scenario that officials said is a worst-case outcome for the region [1].
“Up to 28 typhoons could affect Japan in 2024.”
If these projections materialize, Japan will face a meteorological event that exceeds its historical record for storm landfalls. This puts immense pressure on the country's disaster mitigation systems and could lead to significant economic losses in the tourism and transport sectors, particularly if multiple high-intensity storms hit during peak travel windows.
