Japan's Islands Hit by Back-to-Back Typhoons
The Izu archipelago have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri swept through the area on Monday, coming just after storm Halong, which hit seven days prior.
Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima
Local authorities on Hachijojima noted interruptions and destruction to about 220 homes 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 group of islands. The typhoon also produced waves as high as 9 meters, leading to hazardous shoreline situations. Near Oiso on the Pacific side, in the Kanagawa region, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.
The Evolution of Nakri
Nakri has since transitioned into an non-tropical storm system, losing strength while traveling east over chilled northern Pacific seas, with gusts reducing to around 65mph as of Thursday. Riding the jet stream, its remaining parts are headed to reach the Canadian province of British Columbia, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.
Remembering Halong's Impact
A week earlier, Halong discharged more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as peak wind speeds hit 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, precipitation levels climbed to 349mm, shattering the 24-hour record. The typhoon’s remnants then crossed the north Pacific and arrived in Alaska on Sunday, bringing a record-breaking 2-metre storm surge.
Alaska's Severe Damage
The seaside communities Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. One person died, homes were destroyed, and about 1,500 residents were forced into shelters. Alaska experienced an historic mass evacuation by air to relocate affected individuals. Halong stands as one of the most powerful storms the region has experienced. Its quick strengthening 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 the central and eastern areas. Steered by a dip in the jet stream, both systems hit the same area in quick succession. The first deluge from Priscilla left the ground saturated, worsening floods as Raymond approached. 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 isolated areas.
