Japanese Archipelago Hit by Two Successive Tropical Storms

The Izu Islands have faced yet another severe impact as tropical cyclone Nakri swept through the region on Monday, following in the footsteps of Typhoon Halong, which hit seven days prior.

Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima

Officials on Hachijojima Island noted interruptions and destruction to approximately 220 residences after the typhoon brought an hour of rainfall totaling 37mm and gusts of up to 95mph (152km/h). Airport operations were disrupted, infrastructure damaged, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the island chain. The storm also produced waves as high as 9 meters, leading to hazardous shoreline situations. Off the Pacific coast in Oiso, in the Kanagawa region, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.

Nakri's Transformation

Nakri has since transitioned into an non-tropical storm system, losing strength while traveling east over cooler north Pacific waters, with gusts reducing to around 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remnants are on track to reach British Columbia, Canada, delivering intense precipitation, powerful gusts, and coastal flooding.

Remembering Halong's Impact

A week earlier, Halong discharged over 200mm of precipitation within three hours, as peak wind speeds hit 122mph. By the late morning of the previous Thursday, rainfall totals reached 349mm, shattering the 24-hour record. The typhoon’s remnants then crossed the north Pacific and arrived in Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.

Alaska's Severe Damage

The seaside communities Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. One person died, homes were destroyed, and nearly 1,500 people had to evacuate to safe zones. The state underwent an historic mass evacuation by air to evacuate displaced residents. Halong remains one of the most powerful storms the area has ever seen. Its quick strengthening was driven by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.

Double Trouble in Mexico

Meanwhile, the country endured a double blow last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond combined, dumping about 609mm of rain in four days across central and eastern regions. Steered by a dip in the jet stream, the two weather events struck the same zone one after another. The initial heavy rains from Priscilla made the soil waterlogged, worsening floods as Raymond approached. More than 300 communities were impacted by mudslides and river overflows. By Wednesday, 66 fatalities were verified and 75 remain missing. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with stagnant floodwaters raising health concerns in remote zones.