Tropical storm Aere is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend to the islands of southwestern Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says that as of 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aere was 160 kilometers south-southwest of Minami Daito Island in Okinawa Prefecture. It was moving north-northwest at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour.

The agency says the storm's central pressure was 998 hectopascals. It had a maximum wind speed of about 72 kilometers per hour with gusts of 108 kilometers per hour near its center.

The storm is expected to continue moving northwest, approaching the area of Okinawa's main island and the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture late on Saturday.

It may approach the southern main island of Kyushu on Monday or Tuesday.

Officials are forecasting torrential rains in those regions. Up to 50 millimeters of rainfall per hour is forecast for the area of Okinawa's main island.

Up to 200 millimeters of rain is expected in the area in the 24-hour period through noon on Sunday. Up to 100 millimeters is expected in Kagoshima Prefecture, including the Amami Islands.

Maximum wind velocity will likely reach up to 126 kilometers per hour around Okinawa's main island and the Amami Islands.

There will be rough seas with waves as high as 6 meters around Okinawa's main island, as well as the Daito Islands and the Amami Islands.

Weather officials are warning people in areas that may be affected to watch out for landslides, floods and swollen rivers.