Japan's Islands Struck by Two Successive Tropical Storms
The Izu archipelago have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri moved across the area on Monday, coming just after Typhoon Halong, which hit a week earlier.
Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima
Officials on Hachijojima Island reported disruption and damage to about 220 homes after the storm brought an hour of rainfall totaling 37mm and gusts of up to 95mph (152km/h). Airport operations were disrupted, public facilities harmed, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the group of islands. The typhoon also produced waves as high as 9 meters, creating dangerous coastal conditions. Near Oiso on the Pacific side, in Kanagawa prefecture, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.
Nakri's Transformation
Nakri has since transitioned into an non-tropical storm system, losing strength while traveling east over cooler north Pacific waters, with gusts reducing to around 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remnants are on track to reach the Canadian province of British Columbia, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.
Recalling Halong's Fury
A week earlier, Halong discharged more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as peak wind speeds hit 122mph. By the late morning of the previous Thursday, precipitation levels climbed to 349mm, breaking the daily rainfall record. The storm's leftovers then traveled over the northern Pacific and reached Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.
Alaska's Severe Damage
The seaside communities Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the most affected. One person died, homes were destroyed, and about 1,500 residents were forced into shelters. The state underwent an historic mass evacuation by air to evacuate displaced residents. Halong stands as one of the most powerful storms the region has experienced. Its rapid intensification was fuelled by unusually warm north Pacific waters, which provided extra heat and moisture.
Double Trouble in Mexico
Meanwhile, 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, both systems hit the same area in quick succession. The first deluge from Priscilla made the soil waterlogged, intensifying flooding when Raymond arrived. Over 300 localities were affected by landslides and overflowing rivers. As of 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 remote zones.
