Torrential rain has been pummeling Tokyo and nearby areas. Authorities are urging people to take extra caution against flooding in low-lying areas, as well as overflowing rivers.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says rainclouds have been rapidly developing over southern parts of the Kanto region as atmospheric conditions have significantly destabilized due to a weather front and humid air.
The rainfall for the one-hour period through 5 p.m. on Saturday is believed to have reached more than 120 millimeters in and near Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward and about 100 millimeters in and around the capital’s Kita Ward and Toda City in Saitama Prefecture.
Total precipitation for the one-hour period through 5:20 p.m. is believed to have risen to roughly 100 millimeters in and near Tokyo’s Toshima Ward.
Authorities have repeatedly issued bulletins on significant short-term rainfall.
They have also issued a Level 4 Urgent Warning for heavy rain in some of Tokyo’s 23 wards and Saitama’s Wako City, as well as Kawasaki City and parts of Yokohama City, both in Kanagawa Prefecture.
A Level 4 Urgent Warning for flooding has been issued for the Zenpukujigawa River and the Kandagawa River.
These are the second highest levels of alert on the agency’s scale of one to five.
People should beware of inundated roads and refrain from driving in areas hit by intense rain. They should also be alert to lightning, gusty winds and hail.