Japanese Archipelago Struck by Back-to-Back Tropical Storms
The Izu Islands have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri swept through the area on Monday, following in the footsteps of storm Halong, which hit seven days prior.
Immediate Impact on the Island of Hachijojima
Local authorities on Hachijojima reported disruption and damage to approximately 220 residences after the typhoon brought an hour of rainfall totaling 37mm and gusts of up to 95mph (152km/h). Flight services were interrupted, public facilities harmed, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the group of islands. The storm also generated 9-metre waves, leading to hazardous shoreline situations. Off the Pacific coast in Oiso, in the Kanagawa region, three men were swept away while fishing, one of whom has been confirmed dead.
The Evolution of Nakri
The storm has since shifted into an non-tropical storm system, losing strength while traveling east over chilled northern Pacific seas, with wind speeds dropping to about 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remaining parts are headed to reach British Columbia, Canada, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.
Remembering Halong's Impact
Seven days before, Halong had unleashed more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as peak wind speeds hit 122mph. By the late morning of the previous Thursday, rainfall totals reached 349mm, breaking the daily rainfall record. The storm's leftovers then traveled over the northern Pacific and arrived in Alaska on Sunday, bringing a record-breaking 2-metre storm surge.
Alaska's Severe Damage
The seaside communities Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. A single fatality occurred, houses were ruined, and about 1,500 residents were forced into shelters. The state underwent an historic mass evacuation by air to evacuate displaced residents. Halong remains among the strongest cyclones the region has experienced. Its rapid intensification was fuelled by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which provided extra heat and moisture.
Double Trouble in Mexico
At the same time, the country faced two consecutive hits last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond converged, dumping about 609mm of rain in four days across central and eastern regions. Guided by a trough in the air current, the two weather events struck the same zone one after another. The initial heavy rains from Priscilla made the soil waterlogged, intensifying flooding when Raymond arrived. Over 300 localities were affected by landslides and overflowing rivers. By Wednesday, 66 people have been confirmed dead and 75 individuals are still unaccounted for. Search and relief efforts persist, with stagnant floodwaters raising health concerns in isolated areas.
