Japanese weather officials say Tropical Storm Bebinca is expected to approach Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture on Saturday.
The Meteorological Agency says Bebinca was moving northwest at about 35 kilometers per hour over waters south of Japan at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Bebinca had a central atmospheric pressure of 992 hectopascals. It was packing maximum sustained winds of about 82 kilometers per hour near its center, with peak gusts of 126 kilometers per hour.
The storm is expected to approach Okinawa’s Daito Islands on Saturday morning while gaining strength, and come closest to the Amami region in the evening.
Winds strong enough to overturn running trucks are being forecast in the Okinawa and Amami regions.
Rough seas are expected in those regions from Saturday to Sunday, and are also expected in the southern Kyushu region on Saturday.
Some areas may get localized downpours accompanied by thunder from Saturday to Sunday as atmospheric conditions may become extremely unstable.
In the 24 hours through Saturday evening, rainfall could reach 120 millimeters in the Okinawa region and 100 millimeters in the Amami region.
Weather officials are calling on people to be on heightened alert for violent gusts and high waves. They are also urging caution against flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers and landslides.