Flights and trains in the Tokyo area were canceled on Friday (Aug. 16), and warnings for strong winds, heavy rain, and potential flooding and landslides were issued to the public, as the typhoon turned near Japan and moved further north in the Pacific Ocean.
Typhoon Ampil is forecast to reach waters near Tokyo in the evening and then continue north, bringing storm conditions to the northern Kanto and Tohoku regions on Saturday (8/17) morning.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm had sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour with higher gusts Friday morning and was moving north at 15 kilometers per hour. Ampil is not expected to make landfall and will weaken to a tropical storm by Sunday.
Tokyo Disneyland, which normally opens until 9 p.m., closed early at 3 p.m. because of the typhoon. Yamato Transport, which makes deliveries for Amazon and other services in Japan, said there were no deliveries to the affected Tokyo area and surrounding areas on Friday and Saturday.
Central Japan Railway announced that Shinkansen bullet trains running between Tokyo and Nagoya would be suspended for the day, a common response to typhoons in the country. Bullet trains serving northeastern Japan and some local Tokyo trains were suspended or switched to slower schedules.
Dozens of flights departing and arriving at Tokyo's two airports, Haneda and Narita, as well as at Kansai, Osaka and Chubu airports, were canceled, affecting about 90,000 people, according to Japanese media reports. Some highways may also be partially closed to traffic.
Airports and train stations were packed with people traveling to avoid disruptions caused by the typhoon on Thursday (Aug. 15). On Friday, Tokyo was drizzly and windy, though the intensity varied. Traffic and crowds on the streets were sparse, largely due to the Bon summer holiday period, not just the weather. Shops remained open.
Officials warned people to stay away from rivers and beaches and to be aware of strong winds that could send objects flying.
“We expect very strong winds and very rough seas,” said Shuichi Tachihara, JMA’s chief forecaster.
Japanese TV broadcasts showed Hachijo residents closing their windows. Ampil moved through Hachijo at midday, heading north. Shelves at bakeries and instant noodle shops were bare. (ft/rs)
