Japanese weather officials warn that Severe Tropical Storm Haikui will likely come close to Okinawa Prefecture over the weekend.

The Meteorological Agency says Haikui is moving westward over waters near Japan's southernmost island of Okinotorishima.

The storm is expected to head northwest and approach Okinawa through Saturday.

Winds of up to 72 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 108 kilometers per hour are forecast in the prefecture for Thursday. Winds will likely become even stronger on Friday.

In addition to the expected strong winds, weather officials called on people in Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefecture's Amami region to be on alert for high waves.

The officials also warn of storm surges in Okinawa.

Separately, Tropical Storm Kirogi is far south of Japan and may approach the Ogasawara Islands, located about 1,000 kilometers south of central Tokyo, this weekend.