Typhoon Ampil Approaches Japan, Disrupting Travel
On Thursday, Typhoon Ampil made its way toward Japan, bringing with it a dangerous combination of powerful winds and heavy rainfall. The impending storm has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and train services in and around the bustling metropolis of Tokyo.
As of Thursday afternoon, the storm exhibited maximum sustained winds of 98 miles per hour—comparable to a Category 1 hurricane—according to data from the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Forecasts indicate that by Friday, Ampil’s winds could escalate to an alarming 132 miles per hour, akin to a Category 4 hurricane.
The Japan Meteorological Agency’s chief forecaster, Tachihara Shuichi, warned that the storm could unleash up to 7.8 inches of rain on Tokyo and its surrounding regions over a 24-hour period. This deluge raises significant concerns regarding landslides and flooding.
Travelers inundated call centers on Thursday, leading Japan Airlines to cancel most domestic and several international flights to and from Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports for Friday, citing the risks associated with “aircraft rotation” due to the typhoon’s trajectory.
All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest airline, announced via email that it had scrapped over 290 flights scheduled for Friday, affecting approximately 63,000 passengers. The impact was felt across the region as Central Japan Railway halted all rail services, including the renowned Shinkansen bullet trains, between Tokyo and Nagoya, as well as between Nagoya and Osaka. The company also cautioned about potential delays on Saturday.
In addition to these disruptions, East Japan Railway Company suspended numerous bullet and express trains operating around Tokyo on Friday, compounding the travel chaos.
The Japan Coast Guard issued a warning for large vessels, container ships, ferries, and tankers, advising them to vacate Tokyo Bay indefinitely and seek safer waters as the typhoon approached.
According to the storm track released by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Ampil is predicted to travel north along Japan’s eastern coastline on Saturday before veering eastward into the Pacific Ocean. By that time, the storm’s winds are expected to weaken to levels comparable to a Category 1 hurricane.
Typhoons are classified as tropical cyclones that develop in the Western Pacific or Indian Oceans, featuring sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. In contrast, the term “hurricane” is used for tropical cyclones occurring in the Atlantic.
Scientists have reached a consensus that climate change is amplifying the intensity of tropical cyclones, resulting in an increased likelihood of significant storms. Furthermore, studies indicate that climate change influences the volume of precipitation produced by these storms.
