Typhoon 7 (Mekar) and Typhoon 8 (Higos) are bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Western Japan and the Kanto region [1, 2].
The simultaneous activity of these storms creates a high risk of river flooding and landslides, threatening critical transport infrastructure and public safety across multiple prefectures.
In Chiba, rainfall has already exceeded 200 mm in Choshi [1]. Forecasters from TBS NEWS DIG said that very intense rain may fall for several hours across the Bōsō Peninsula and Miura Peninsula. In Mōhara City, officials said that strengthening rain could severely reduce visibility [1].
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued Level 4 landslide-risk warnings for Minamibōsō and Tateyama [1]. The Kanto region is expected to see rainfall of 100 mm [1]. While Typhoon 7 approached Okinawa in the early morning of June 25, 2024 [2], the peak of wind and rain for the Kanto region is forecasted for Saturday, June 29, 2024 [1].
Transport disruptions are widespread. Closures have affected the Odawara-Atami rail corridor and sections of the Ken-Ō Expressway [1, 2]. Flight cancellations and road blockages have also been reported as the storms move through Kyushu and western Honshu [1, 2].
This weather event is part of a larger pattern in the western Pacific, where three simultaneous typhoons, numbered 7, 8, and 9, have been active [2]. The combination of these systems is generating the high waves and intense precipitation currently impacting the Japanese archipelago [1, 2].
“Rainfall has already exceeded 200 mm in Choshi.”
The presence of three simultaneous typhoons in the western Pacific increases the complexity of meteorological forecasting and elevates the risk of compound disasters. When multiple systems interact, they can enhance rainfall patterns and prolong the duration of hazardous conditions, placing sustained pressure on Japan's disaster response infrastructure and transportation networks.
