The Japanese archipelago is facing the arrival of two typhoons, number 24 and 18, which threaten to cause heavy rain and winds in several regions. Okinawa Prefecture already felt the effects of an unstable atmosphere last September 1, with sudden storms and torrential precipitation that impaired visibility in cities such as Tomigusuku and Itoman. Meteorologists warn of the risk of extreme rainfall that could reach warning levels in areas such as Hokuriku and Kanto by the weekend.
Unstable weather conditions hit Okinawa and Kyushu
Okinawa Prefecture experienced a series of severe storms on September 1, driven by newly formed Typhoon No. 24. In Tomigusuku, the force of the rain shook the trees violently, while in Itoman, the precipitation was so intense that it fell horizontally, compromising visibility. The Kyushu region was also impacted, with the city of Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture recording heavy rain since the morning.
Double threat: the formation of typhoons 24 and 18
The current situation is peculiar, with two active weather phenomena close to Japan. The Himawari satellite detected typhoon No. 24 forming over the sea south of the country on September 1. At the same time, typhoon No. 18, which appeared on August 19, after weakening to a tropical depression, gained strength again, reemerging as a typhoon. This double presence increases the complexity of climate alerts. Typhoon No. 24 is forecast to approach Okinawa after September 3, with the island of Kitadaito already recording strong winds of up to 21.1 meters per second and intense waves.
Warning for torrential rain and economic impacts
In addition to the southern prefectures, sudden thunderstorms were also observed in the Hokuriku region, such as the city of Tokamachi in Niigata, where lateral rain lashed the ground. In Gosen, in the same province, water gushed from the drains. In the Kanto region, in Togane, Chiba, heavy rains began to fall in the afternoon. Typhoon No. 24 is expected to affect a vast area of the archipelago by the weekend, raising concerns. Hiroaki Nakano of G・L・A・D surf shop in the Shonan region of Kanagawa expressed the merchants’ perplexity: “There have been a lot of typhoons this year. Rents go down when there’s a typhoon and we have to cancel classes and things like that. We can’t force people to go out when it’s dangerous, so sales are probably around 60-70%.” Authorities warn of the risk of alert-level torrential rain in Hokuriku around September 3, and in Kanto over the weekend.
Japan’s typhoon history in 2024
The simultaneous approach of these two typhoons is part of a context of unusual climate activity in Japan. The archipelago has faced the passage of typhoons for nine consecutive months, indicating a period of prolonged climate instability. This sequence of events generates a continuous alert scenario for populations and businesses in the country’s coastal and mountainous areas.
