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Tuesday, 5th July 2016
In Weather In Japan,
Typhoon Nepartak heading for Japan's Ryuku Islands
The population of the Ryuku Islands in the East China Sea is bracing itself for extreme weather conditions, as Typhoon Nepartak is on its way.
Flooding rain and gusts of winds exceeding 160 kilometres per hour are expected when the storm makes landfall later this week.
Nepartak represents the end of the longest period in the north-western Pacific Ocean without a tropical storm large enough to be given a name.
The current climate in the region has all the elements to give Nepartak increased force and it is indeed gaining strength.
Experts believe that the typhoon will reach the Ryuku Islands by Thursday (July 7th), with the associated weather affecting the archipelago in the afternoon or evening.
The islands of Yaeyama and Miyako are expected to be worst hit as they lie right in the line of the storm’s trajectory.
Adam Douty, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, has warned that these two islands could see five to ten inches of flooding rainfall and winds reaching between 160 and 210 kilometres per hour.
Shipping should also be aware of the risks, as the seas around the archipelago will become increasingly dangerous as Nepartak draws closer.
Coastal flooding is also predicted to be a severe issue, with areas lying close to the storm’s track likely to be affected.
Evacuation orders have been set out on the islands and residents have been advised to follow them, as well as making other preparations.
These include securing parts of property to prevent water from getting in and tying down anything that could be battered by the extreme winds.
By the time Nepartak reaches mainland Japan it is expected to have lost some of its force, downgrading to a strong tropical storm.
Douty said: "As the system weakens, winds will become a lesser concern and flooding rainfall will be the main concern."