After record heatwave, strong typhoon spares most of Tokyo
Tokyo: Typhoon Shanshan spared most parts of Tokyo and is expected to head northward along Japan’s eastern coast, averting major disruption for commuters in and around the capital.
The slow-moving storm was located 60 km (38 miles) southeast of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, as of 7am local time, according to the Meteorological Agency.
It is still classified as a “strong” typhoon, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the SaffirSimpson scale.
Shanshan is expected to head north along the eastern coast before heading back farther northeast into the Pacific Ocean, the agency said on its website.
Since it’s slow, strong winds and heavy rain was projected in the afternoon in the Tohoku and Kanto regions.
The Tohoku region is projected to be hit by heavy rain of up to 150 mm for the 24 hours through 6am today and 100mm in the Kanto region. Narita airport had canceled 22 departing flights and Haneda has scrubbed 35. Additionally, travellers can expect delays. On Wednesday, four people were injured due to strong wind, in Ibaraki, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.
Shanshan is the latest weather front to batter Japan, which has been sweating through a record and deadly heatwave.
The heatwave brought the hottest July on record to much of the country, with the mercury hitting a record 41.1 deg C in one city near Tokyo. The heat has been severe, killing more than 100 and hospitalising tens of thousands.