A: Hey there! Did you catch the news today?
B: No, what's up?

A: Well, seems like it's going to rain a lot in Japan! They say the Tokai region is already hit by heavy downpours and we might face landslides and flooding.

B: Oh no, that sounds serious! What about Shikoku region?

A: They warned of an increased risk of rain-triggered disasters there too, through tonight.

A: It's all because of this warm, moist air messing with the weather around a high-pressure system. They recorded 144.5mm of rain in just three hours in Kuwana city!

B: Wow, that's a lot! And some places are facing a high risk of flooding already.

A: Exactly! Landslide warnings have been issued in parts of Mie and Gifu prefectures. They say the rain could continue through late Thursday afternoon on the Pacific side of eastern Japan and through Friday in western Japan, causing thunderstorms and heavy rain.

B: It sounds like we need to be careful! They also warned about lightning strikes, strong winds, and hail.

A: Absolutely! They're predicting up to 300mm of rain in Shikoku by Friday noon. Let's hope it doesn't get worse!
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Japanese weather officials say torrential downpours have hit the Tokai region in the central part of the country and warn of a heightened risk of landslides and flooding.



They say the Shikoku region, in western Japan, could also face an increased risk of rain-triggered disasters through late Thursday night.



The Meteorological Agency says an inflow of warm, moist air around a high-pressure system has been making atmospheric conditions very unstable, especially on the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan.



Officials say 144.5 millimeters of rain fell in the three hours to 1:10 p.m. in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, marking a local record for most rain in three hours for July.



They say the amount of rain recorded in the one-hour period to 2 p.m. Thursday was 53 millimeters in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture and 42 millimeters in the city of Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture.



The heavy rains have triggered landslide warnings in parts of Mie and Gifu prefectures, while some places in Gifu and Aichi prefectures face a high risk of flooding.



Unstable atmospheric conditions are likely to continue through late Thursday afternoon, especially on the Pacific side of eastern Japan, and through Friday in western Japan. This could cause localized thunderstorms and heavy rain.



Weather officials warn of bands of heavy rainclouds forming over Tokushima and Kochi prefectures in western Japan through late Thursday night.



They say this could sharply raise the risk of rain-triggered disasters in the areas.



Rainfall over the 24-hour period through Friday noon could total up to 300 millimeters in Shikoku, which includes Tokushima and Kochi. Rainfall could reach 150 millimeters in Kinki, and in northern and southern Kyushu, and 120 millimeters in the Tokai region and Yamaguchi Prefecture.



Weather officials are also urging caution against lightning strikes, gusty winds and hail.