Deluge likely in Izu Islands, Chiba Pref. noon Thursday - NHKニュース

Developed rain clouds were hovering over the Izu Islands and Chiba Prefecture around midnight on Wednesday due to an influx of warm and damp air surrounding Typhoon In-fa.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 4 Urgent Warning for landslides in Niijima Village in the Izu island chain and Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture.

Officials are warning of extremely heavy rain in the Kanto region and the Izu Islands around noon Thursday.

The typhoon packing a storm zone was moving north off the southern coast of Japan at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour as of 9 p.m. Wednesday.

In-fa had a central atmospheric pressure of 970 hectopascals. The storm was packing winds of up to 126 kilometers per hour near its center, with peak gusts reaching 180 kilometers per hour.

Niijima Airport in the Izu Islands observed 138.5 millimeters of rain during the six hours ending at midnight on Wednesday.

Atmospheric conditions will remain unstable on Thursday. Extreme downpours of more than 50 millimeters an hour, sporadically accompanied by thunder, may fall around noon on the Izu Islands and by morning in the Kanto region.

Rain of up to 180 millimeters is expected in the Izu Islands during the 24 hours ending late Thursday afternoon. In the same period, up to 130 millimeters is expected in southern Kanto and 120 millimeters in northern Kanto.

Winds are expected to intensify mainly along coastal areas.

Agency officials are urging people to be on high alert for mudslides and floods in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.

They are also asking residents to be wary of gusts, high waves, lightning and freak winds, including tornadoes, as well as hail.