Tropical Storm Shanshan is heading slowly eastward across Japan, bringing record rainfall to wide areas. The Meteorological Agency says bands of heavy rainclouds could cause torrential rain over the regions of Tokai and Kanto-Koshin — including Tokyo.
The agency says Shanshan is moving east slowly along the Pacific Coast of central Japan as of 3 a.m. Sunday.
It is packing sustained winds of about 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour.
The storm has brought rain for long periods. Atami City in Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan saw a record of 608 millimeters in the last 72 hours through midnight Saturday. That’s about three times the average amount of rain the area has for the entire month of August.
The amount of rain in the 24 hours through Sunday evening is expected to be up to 400 millimeters in Tokai, 300 millimeters in Kanto-Koshin, and 200 millimeters in Kinki.
Shanshan has caused at least six deaths. More than 120 people around Japan have been injured.
The storm is expected to move north on Sunday and gradually weaken and turn into a tropical depression on Sunday night. But people are still advised to be on the alert for heavy rain.
The operator of Tokaido Shinkansen, linking Tokyo and Osaka, has suspended all train services between Mishima and Nagoya stations for Saturday and Sunday.
The operator says the bullet train at other sections could also be suspended, depending on the rain volume.
The Sanyo Shinkansen, linking Osaka and Fukuoka, is running with services reduced.
Major air carriers, including All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, have canceled dozens of flights, most of which were to and from airports in the Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
Some sections of expressways across the country are also closed. Highway operators are calling on motorists to consider changing their schedules and to check the latest road information, as traffic restrictions may be widely imposed for extended periods.