On Monday, Tropical Storm Maria hit Japan’s northern region. The storm caused record rainfall in the area, disrupted flights and train services, and even forced people in some areas to evacuate their homes. Thankfully, there were no immediate casualties reported. Read on to know more about this.
Tropical Storm Maria Hits Japan With Record Rainfall
On Monday, Japan’s northern region of Iwate woke up to torrential rains and high wind speeds. Tropical Storm Maria has made landfall in this region of Japan and has caused travel disruption and even forced people to leave their houses. As per The Times of India report, initially, the Japan Meteorological Agency classified Tropical Storm Maria as a “severe tropical storm.” This meant it had an intensity just below that of a typhoon.
🇯🇵 Tropical Storm Maria has arrived in Japan, bringing torrential rain and powerful winds to the northern region of Iwate. With maximum wind speeds reaching 45 mph, the storm is set to make its way towards the Sea of Japan. 🌊💨 Despite the heavy rainfall and disruption to… pic.twitter.com/wXfLshqeJ7
— Sami Ullah (@SammiUllahh) August 12, 2024
Seeing this warning, authorities issued evacuation advisories to about 315,000 residents in the area. Around 2,000 people were evacuated and placed in local shelters. The storm brought with itself 368 millimetres of rain, which is much higher than the usual 177.9 millimetres recorded in August in this region.
Japan’s Meteorological agency has downgraded the Tropical Storm Maria to a “tropical storm” by Monday afternoon after its intensity decreased. However, they have issued warnings about the risks of mudslides and floods after the record-breaking rainfall over the last two days in the region.
Bullet Train Services Suspended, Flights Cancelled
Tropical Storm Maria in Japan has severely disrupted transportation in the northern region as well. As per an NDTV report, some high-speed bullet trains and regular services have been suspended in Iwate and other northern areas. Several airlines like Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have also cancelled flights in the affected regions.
Due to the torrential rains, waterlogging has also been reported in several areas. Pictures and videos online show overflowing dams and rivers and cars being submerged in rainwater in various parts of Japan. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far due to Tropical Storm Maria.
The storm is expected to cross Japan and head out to the Sea of Japan by Monday evening. As per experts, these frequent storms and extreme weather are all caused by climate change.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@SammiUllahh
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.