Typhoon causes mudslides, blackouts

I hadn't expected it would be so strong, but fortunately, it was fast-moving. Morning classes were cancelled, but we're back on schedule now here in Kumamoto. However, a large tree was toppled over three cars in the university parking lot. Hint: In the event of a typhoon, do not park your car under a large tree.

It's moving very quickly and will pretty much blow itself out by the time it reaches Tokyo, but people should be prepared for delays on public transport in the morning.

The typhoon season has come around again. Better to brace ourselves for the possible damage.

At least, I didn't have to go into the office today, Didn't see that much damage in Fukuoka, all is ok for the most part, but the one upside to this, some much needed cool air.

Agreed, Bass - comfortable temperature now and a very pleasant breeze.

According to all weather sources it has only been a tropical Storm and never reached Typhoon status. Is the media really that desperate for "exciting" headlines?

What are you talking about? It has been named and numbered as a typhoon everywhere.

There's a fine line between tropical depressions and typhoons - probably what matters more is the amount of energy they've retained as the cross land. This one was far from the strongest I've experienced, particularly due to its speed, but pretty much everyone who had expected simple heavy rain was surprised at the wind strength.

According to all weather sources it has only been a tropical Storm and never reached Typhoon status. Is the media really that desperate for "exciting" headlines?

It sounds like you're trying to say they shouldn't have reported on it until it was classified a typhoon. Is that correct?

Sure report it and the damage but report it correclty. How else are readers to appreciate (or believe) the true severity of a Typhoon when there really is a typhoon on the way? never Heard of Cry Wolf?

It would be strange if headlines in the west referefed to a mere storm as a Hurrican. A typhoon is only a typhoon if the sustained strength is of the winds are over a certain level. It's back and white. Just a quick check of the Tropical Storm Watch website for example ( http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/tracker/dynamic/main.html ) showes clearly all the categories. Yesterday's storm was only ever a tropical storm and is now a tropical depression.

Out all of the types of natural disasters that can possibly happen in Japan, mudslides seem the hardest to prepare for. From what I have read, your only option is to run.

The Japan Meteorological Agency designates it as a typhoon, and it's windspeed surpassed the threshold to be a typhoon. Not sure how more black and white you can get.

rainyday: you can argue all you like, but just check the facts -

http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com/tracker/dynamic/main.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Nanmadol

And BTW the JMA site nowhere mentions a "typhoon" - just tropical cyclones

The categories are for a reason so people understand the severity of a storm - tropical depression, tropical storm, severe Tropical Storms AND typhoons - categories 1...5.

Why do you have a problem with these facts? This storm was never a category 1 typoon NEVER, so quite simply it wasn't a typhoon. Thats Black and white.

just lots of rain for 30mins. i never trust NHK weather reports. i wanna know if i could die from a serious weather event, not be distracted from politics. they already apologised for saying the rainy season has started when in fact it hadn't. a large percentage of elderly people live in rural areas, so sophisticated weather prediction is of paramount Importance.

so sophisticated weather prediction is of paramount Importance.

Agree, we're going to need to wait a few more years.

An H-2A rocket carrying the Himawari-9 weather satellite lifted off at 3:20 p.m from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture

The Himawari-9 has a high-spec camera, more than three times more observational bands than the existing Himawari-8 satellite and is expected to be fully operational by 2022, JAEA said.

Why do you have a problem with these facts? This storm was never a category 1 typoon NEVER, so quite simply it wasn't a typhoon. Thats Black and white.

I stand corrected.

The JMA website in Japanese describes it as "台風３号”　so I assume that is why everyone is referring to it as a typhoon.