Tropical Storm Lupit has turned into a low pressure system. But people in rain-soaked areas in western Japan still need to remain vigilant against mudslides and floods.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says Lupit became a low at 9 a.m. on Monday after making landfall in Hiroshima Prefecture earlier in the morning. It first made landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture on Sunday night before moving over the Seto Inland Sea.
Dense rainclouds have been hanging over the prefectures of Shimane and Hiroshima in western Japan and over wide swathes of eastern Japan.
The agency says rainfall for the three-hour period through 8:30 a.m. on Monday grew to about 140 millimeters in part of the Oki Islands. That’s a record for the area.
Rainfall for the one-hour period through 9 a.m. on Monday reached 52 millimeters in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and 45 millimeters in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture.
Precipitation for the 12-hour period through 10 a.m. on Monday hit 274.5 millimeters in Hamada City, Shimane Prefecture, and 245.5 millimeters in Kitahiroshima Town, Hiroshima Prefecture. Both are above their average rainfalls for the whole of August.
Mudslide alerts are in place in some parts of Shimane and Hiroshima prefectures. Some rivers in Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures are above their flood warning levels.
Strong winds have been blowing over wide areas. A gust of 136.8 kilometers per hour was recorded at Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on Monday.
The low pressure system is expected to travel northeast while gathering strength. It is forecast to pass through the northeastern region of Tohoku on Tuesday.
Caution against more downpours is advised in western Japan on Monday. People in eastern and northern Japan should also stay on alert for heavy rain through Tuesday.
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