The Japan Meteorological Agency issued heavy-rain warnings for western Japan on Sunday during a press conference regarding the approach of Typhoon 6 [1].
The slow movement of the storm increases the risk of catastrophic flooding and landslides. Because the system is drifting northward at a reduced pace, residents in the path of the storm face prolonged exposure to intense precipitation.
Officials held the briefing at JMA headquarters in Tokyo starting at 2 p.m. JST [2]. Chief Forecaster Shuichi Tachihara of the Atmospheric Ocean Department said the storm's slow speed is a primary concern for public safety. The agency is tracking the system as it moves toward western regions, where it is expected to bring record-breaking rainfall [1].
"As a major characteristic of this event, the movement of the typhoon is very slow. Over a very wide area for a long time..." Tachihara said [1].
The JMA is urging residents in the affected areas to monitor local weather updates and prepare for potential evacuations. The agency said that the duration of the rain is as critical as the volume, as saturated ground increases the likelihood of slope failures, a common danger during the Japanese rainy season.
Nationwide broadcasts of the conference aimed to ensure that citizens in the western prefectures have the most current data on the storm's trajectory. The JMA continues to monitor the atmospheric conditions that are contributing to the typhoon's sluggish pace [2].
“The movement of the typhoon is very slow.”
Slow-moving typhoons are often more dangerous than fast-moving ones because they dump larger volumes of water over the same geographic area. By issuing warnings specifically for record-breaking rainfall in western Japan, the JMA is signaling a high risk of infrastructure failure and flash flooding, necessitating a more aggressive evacuation posture than typical seasonal storms.
