A large tropical storm that is gaining strength may approach Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Wednesday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday that tropical storm Pulasan was over waters near the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean and was moving northwest at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour.

The storm had a central atmospheric pressure of 996 hectopascals. It was packing maximum sustained winds of about 65 kilometers per hour at its center, with peak gusts of 90 kilometers per hour.

Winds with a speed of 54 kilometers per hour are blowing in areas within 600 kilometers northeast and 440 kilometers southwest of the storm's center.

The agency forecast that the storm may come closest to Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday. It said winds of up to 54 kilometers per hour are expected in the Okinawa region on Tuesday, with peak gusts of 90 kilometers per hour.

It added that winds may further gain speed on Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of 72 kilometers per hour and maximum wind gusts of 108 kilometers per hour expected in the Okinawa and Amami regions.

Rough seas are expected in those regions through Thursday.

In the 24 hours until Wednesday morning, up to 50 millimeters of rainfall is expected in the Okinawa region.
Rainfall could also reach 150 millimeters in the Amami region and 100 millimeters in the Okinawa region in the 24 hours until Thursday morning.

Weather officials are calling on people to be on alert for high waves. They are also urging caution against strong winds, storm surges, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, lightning strikes and tornadoes.

People are also urged to keep updated with the latest weather information and take precautions in advance.