Severe Tropical Storm Maria is likely to make landfall in the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan before noon on Monday.
Weather officials warn that bands of heavy rain clouds could develop over the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Aomori through Monday morning. They say record heavy rain could fall mainly in the Pacific side of Tohoku.
Rainfall reached up to 307.5 millimeters in Kuji City in Iwate Prefecture in the 24 hours through 2 a.m. on Monday, which is more than 1.5 times the average monthly rainfall for August.
Landslide alert information has been issued for parts of Iwate Prefecture.
As the risk of disaster could rapidly rise, people are advised to secure safety, staying away from cliffs and canyons.
The Meteorological Agency says Maria is moving westward over waters east of Japan. Rainclouds are developing over parts of Iwate Prefecture and other areas along Tohoku’s Pacific coast.
Northern Japan may see torrential rain on Monday and heavy thunder showers through Tuesday.
Rainfall could reach up to 300 millimeters in the 24 hours through late Monday, 150 millimeters in the following 24 hours, and another 150 millimeters in the 24 hours through late Wednesday.
Officials say downpours may far exceed the average precipitation for the entire month of August, especially on the Pacific side of the region.
Niigata Prefecture and Hokkaido could also receive heavy rain through Tuesday.
Strong winds are expected in northern Japan, with violent gusts possibly lashing some areas through Monday.
On Monday, maximum sustained wind could reach 90 kilometers per hour in Tohoku, and about 65 kilometers per hour in Hokkaido.
Gusts could peak at 126 kilometers per hour in Tohoku and 90 kilometers per hour in Hokkaido.
Waves are likely to reach as high as 7 meters off the Tohoku coast through Monday. The sea off Hokkaido will also be rough.
Weather officials are warning of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and swelling and overflowing of rivers.
They are calling on people to stay vigilant against violent winds and high waves, as well as lightning strikes and tornadoes.
People should shelter in sturdy buildings and take other safety measures if they notice signs of developed rainclouds in their areas.
It is extremely dangerous to evacuate once flooding occurs. Many people have died as they tried to do so.
Rain and winds could suddenly intensify in Tohoku, which lies in the direct path of the storm.