Weather tracker: Japanese islands struck by two successive typhoons | Japan
Japan’s Izu Islands were dealt another powerful blow on Monday by Typhoon Nakri, following in the footsteps of Typhoon Halong a week earlier.
Officials on Hachijojima Island south of Tokyo reported disruption and damage to about 220 homes after the storm brought 37 mm (1.5 inches) of rain in an hour and wind gusts of up to 95 mph (152 km/h). Airport operations were disrupted, infrastructure was damaged and heavy rains caused landslides across the island chain. The typhoon also created 30-foot waves, creating dangerous coastal conditions. In Oiso, in the Pacific coast Kanagawa prefecture, three men were swept away while fishing, one of whom was confirmed dead.
Nakri has since strengthened into an extratropical cyclone, weakening as it moved eastward over cooler North Pacific waters, with wind speeds dropping to about 65 mph on Thursday. Remnants of the jet stream are on their way to British Columbia, Canada, bringing heavy rain, high winds and storm surge.
A week ago, more than 200 mm of rain fell in Halong in three hours, and maximum sustained winds reached 192 miles per hour. Late last Thursday morning, total rainfall reached 349 mm, breaking the 24-hour record. The remnants of the typhoon then crossed the North Pacific and reached Alaska on Sunday, causing a record 2-foot storm surge.
The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were hardest hit. One person died, houses were destroyed and approximately 1,500 people had to take shelter in shelters. Alaska experienced one of the largest airlifts in its history to evacuate displaced residents. Halong stands as one of the strongest storms the region has experienced. Its rapid condensation was caused by unusually warm North Pacific waters providing extra heat and moisture.
Mexico, meanwhile, was dealt a double whammy last week when Hurricane Priscilla and the remnants of Tropical Storm Raymond combined to dump nearly 609mm of rain in four days on central and eastern regions.
Driven by a drop in the jet stream, both systems hit the same area in rapid succession. The initial flood from Priscilla saturated the soil, and the flooding intensified when Raymond arrived.
More than 300 communities were affected by landslides and river floods. As of Wednesday, 66 people were confirmed dead and 75 people remain missing. Rescue and rescue operations continue as stagnant floodwaters cause health problems in isolated areas.
