Typhoon Shanshan is expected to approach western parts of Japan and the Amami region in the south from Tuesday onwards. The storm will possibly bring fierce winds there as well as heavy rain in wide areas along the Pacific.

The Meteorological Agency says the strong typhoon was heading west-northwest over waters south of Japan at 20 kilometers per hour as of 9 a.m. on Monday.

Shanshan has a central atmospheric pressure of 980 hectopascals. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 126 kilometers per hour near its center and gusts peaking at 180 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon is expected to continue moving north while picking up strength before coming close to western Japan and the island region of Amami in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Agency officials forecast that the maximum wind speed will reach 108 kilometers per hour in southern Kyushu and Amami on Tuesday, with the maximum gust speed reaching 162 kilometers per hour.

They say the winds may be even stronger on Wednesday, predicting that the maximum wind speed will reach 162 kilometers per hour in southern Kyushu and Amami, and 90 kilometers per hour in the Shikoku region.

The maximum gust speed may reach 216 kilometers per hour in southern Kyushu and Amami.

The Tokai region could get up to 180 millimeters of rain in the 24-hour period through Tuesday noon, while the Kinki and Shikoku regions could get 120 millimeters and 100 millimeters, respectively.

During the 24 hours through Wednesday noon, rainfall could reach up to 200 millimeters in Tokai, southern Kyushu and Amami, 150 millimeters in Shikoku and 100 millimeters in Kinki and northern Kyushu.

The officials say more rain may fall as the storm is moving slowly.

Seas are expected to become rough with swells, and may be extremely rough.

Agency officials are urging caution against violent winds, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, rising water levels and flooding of rivers, and high waves.