Japan's Islands Hit by Back-to-Back Typhoons
The Izu Islands have faced yet another severe impact as tropical cyclone Nakri moved across the area on Monday, coming just after Typhoon Halong, which struck a week earlier.
Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima
Officials on Hachijojima Island reported disruption and damage to approximately 220 residences after the typhoon brought 37mm (1.5in) of rain in one hour and gusts of up to 95mph (152km/h). Airport operations were disrupted, infrastructure damaged, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the island chain. The typhoon also produced waves as high as 9 meters, creating dangerous coastal conditions. Off the Pacific coast in Oiso, in Kanagawa prefecture, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.
Nakri's Transformation
Nakri has since transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, weakening as it moved eastwards over chilled northern Pacific seas, with wind speeds dropping to about 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remnants are on track to reach British Columbia, Canada, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.
Recalling Halong's Fury
A week earlier, Halong had unleashed more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as maximum sustained winds reached 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, precipitation levels climbed to 349mm, breaking the daily rainfall record. The storm's leftovers then traveled over the northern Pacific and reached Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.
Significant Harm in Alaska
The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. One person died, houses were ruined, and nearly 1,500 people had to evacuate to safe zones. The state underwent one of the largest airlifts in its history to relocate affected individuals. Halong stands as among the strongest cyclones the region has experienced. Its rapid intensification was fuelled by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.
Double Trouble in Mexico
Meanwhile, the nation endured a double blow last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond converged, releasing nearly 609mm of precipitation over four days across central and eastern regions. Guided by a trough in the air current, both systems hit the same area in quick succession. The first deluge from Priscilla left the ground saturated, intensifying flooding when Raymond arrived. Over 300 localities were affected by landslides and overflowing rivers. As of Wednesday, 66 fatalities were verified and 75 remain missing. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with standing water causing health worries in remote zones.
