Super Typhoon Jebi to threaten Japan with damaging winds, flooding next week

Super Typhoon Jebi will likely continue to strengthen into this weekend before bringing impacts to Japan next week.

While the tropical threat is expected to remain mostly over the open ocean through early next week, it will lash the largely unpopulated far Northern Mariana Islands and Iwo To with rain and wind from its outer bands.

As of Thursday evening, local time, Jebi contained wind speeds of 194 km/h (121 mph), the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins.

Further strengthening is expected, as Jebi moves over the warm ocean waters south of Japan this weekend.

A turn toward the north is expected later this weekend into early next week, causing the dangerous typhoon to approach Japan.

Well ahead of Jebi’s arrival, dangerous seas and surf will build along and near the coast of eastern Kyushu, Shioku and eastern Honshu.

Wave heights over 10 meters (33 feet) are expected in offshore waters east of Shikoku and south of Honshu, creating impacts for the shipping industry.

While several scenarios are still in play, the most likely track takes the storm near or into Japan around Tuesday of next week, before being picked up by a front moving through the Sea of Japan.

Due to the strength of this dangerous tropical cyclone, impacts ranging from life-threatening flooding and mudslides to destructive winds are possible.

The worst impacts would occur if Jebi makes landfall; however, even if it remains offshore east of Japan, the large tropical cyclone could lash coastal areas with damaging winds and flooding rainfall.

Excessive rain has been a widespread problem already across much of the country, which has been impacted by two typhoons, a depression and a severe tropical storm since the middle of August.

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