Saturday, August 24, 2024 Japan is bracing for the impact of severe tropical storm Shanshan, which is anticipated to approach the country’s main islands early next week. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued warnings as the storm travels northward in the Pacific, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to significant travel disruptions across the region. As of 3 p.
m. on Friday, Shanshan was recorded packing maximum sustained winds of 108 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts reaching up to 162 kilometers per hour. The storm is currently moving northward, and although its precise course and strength are yet to be fully determined, it is expected to approach the waters near the Ogasawara Islands by Saturday.
By Tuesday or later, Shanshan is projected to approach western and eastern Japan, bringing severe weather conditions. Forecasters are particularly concerned about the impact on the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan, where rain and winds are expected to intensify gradually. Northern Japan could also experience rough weather conditions starting from Wednesday.
Given the anticipated severity of the storm, significant travel disruptions are expected, particularly concerning air travel and railway services. Airlines operating in and out of Japan are closely monitoring the progress of Shanshan and are likely to implement widespread flight cancellations if the storm continues on its projected path. Travelers are advised to stay infor.