During Monday’s tropical storm Maria, the north of Japan experienced an unprecedented amount of rainfall, leading to a situation where so many flights had to be cancelled.
Maria landed near Ofunato city in Iwate Prefecture at around 8.30 am (2330 GMT Sunday), says Japan Meteorological Agency Reports. Initial assessments placed Maria in the severe tropical storm category, which is just below a typhoon but by Monday evening, it has been weakened to grade ‘tropical storm’.
The heavy downpour caused no deaths and signified that very few structures were destroyed according to reports from the Iwate Prefectural Government.
Local authorities issued evacuation advisories and warnings overnight for some 31,5000 residents across various districts, with about 2000 of these taking shelter in local halls. In Kuji city alone, there was a record-breaking rain fall of 368 mm over Monday morning and evening, representing the highest ever twenty four hour rain since 1978 when it hit 14 inches compared with monthly average of 177.9mm.
As a result of nearby dam releasing water for flood control purposes, the Kuji city warned against emergency evacuation for around 8300 inhabitants living on river banks. The weather agency warned as follows: “people living within those prefectures should expect landslides, swollen rivers and floods in low-lying areas bearing wind gusts and big waves”.
By afternoon yesterday, Tohoku Electric Power Company stated that over three hundred households in Iwate Prefecture were still off the grid.The tempest had meanwhile reached Hanamaki City in Iwate Prefecture as at noon local time blowing winds at speeds reaching 108 kilometers per hour westerly direction moving at such speed as well.
The flight cancellations mainly affected northern areas because of the impact of this storm. According to NHK state broadcaster reports on eight flights cancellation by All Nippon airways affecting 7,039 passengers with Japan airlines also having to cancel their 78 domestic flights. Some local train services have been disrupted while the bullet train still remains on schedule.
Tropical Storm Maria is forecasted to pass through Japan towards the Sea of Japan by tonight. Heavy rains and tropical storms are both examples of climate change says the scientists which has increased its frequency as well as magnitude.
