Typhoon Chan-hom Makes Landfall in Japan...Dozens of Flights Canceled at Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita Airports

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that Typhoon Chan-hom, the 15th typhoon of the season, made landfall in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at around 8:00 p.m. on August 11. This marks the first time since Japan began keeping related records in 1951 that a typhoon has made landfall in Ibaraki Prefecture, located northeast of Tokyo.

Typhoon Chan-hom is expected to cross westward over Honshu, Japan’s main island, and move out toward the Sea of Japan on August 12. The Japan Meteorological Agency cautioned that, due to the typhoon’s unusual path, powerful winds and high waves could cause damage in the Kanto region—including Tokyo in eastern Honshu—and along the Tohoku coastal region in the island’s northeast.

Typhoon Chan-hom's Path. Screenshot from Korea Meteorological Administration Weather Nuri

The central pressure of Typhoon Chan-hom was recorded at 980 hectopascals (hPa), with maximum sustained winds near the center of 25 meters per second and maximum instantaneous gusts of 35 meters per second. Strong winds exceeding 15 meters per second were reported within 500 kilometers northeast and 330 kilometers southwest of the storm's center.

Between 4:30 p.m. and around 7:30 p.m. on the same day, a maximum instantaneous gust of 29.3 meters per second was observed in Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture. In Omotesando, a bustling district in Tokyo, roadside trees toppled amid what appeared to be strong typhoon winds, causing traffic in the area to be restricted.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast that, from the afternoon of August 11 through August 12, heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning would fall over a wide area stretching from Tohoku to western Japan. The agency warned residents to watch out for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, river overflows, lightning strikes, and damage from strong gusts resulting from the heavy rain.

Transportation services are also being affected. As of 8:00 p.m. on August 11, a total of 67 flights using Haneda and Narita airports near Tokyo had been canceled due to Typhoon Chan-hom's impact.

According to JR, as of 6:00 p.m. on August 11, Tokaido and Tohoku Shinkansen lines running along Japan's eastern coast were still operating normally, but delays and service suspensions may occur later. Meanwhile, some train services, including those between Iwaki Station and Mito Station on the JR Joban Line in eastern Japan, were partially suspended on August 11. The Hitachi Limited Express train connecting Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station and Sendai Station has also had all service suspended between Sendai Station and Iwaki Station in Fukushima Prefecture since the afternoon of August 11.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.