Typhoon Chanthu approaching Hokkaido in northern Japan, train services, schools suspended

Typhoon Chanthu is approaching Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and may make landfall later Wednesday, with the weather agency warning of torrential rainfall, strong gusts, as well as possible flooding and landslides.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as of 3 pm local time, the typhoon was roughly 100 km east of Hachinohe City, in Aomori prefecture, and was on northerly trajectory at a speed of 50 km per hour, with winds up to 144 km per hour.

The typhoon on its way north skirted the Kanto region including Tokyo, causing disruption to local and Shinkansen bullet train services, as well as grounding some flights to and from Hokkaido, with hourly rainfall reaching record highs in cities in both Ibaraki Prefecture and Fukushima, at 65.5 mm and 55.5 mm respectively.

Aomori Prefecture recorded 47 mm of rainfall and Hakodate City in Hokkaido had logged 39 mm as of 2 pm local time, the weather agency said, with the atmospheric pressure at the typhoon's center measured at 980 hectopascals.

The JMA said the typhoon could bring downpours of as much as 250 mm in Hokkaido and 120 mm in some regions in Tohoku, although said it is likely to be downgraded to an extratropical cyclone as it heads over the Sea of Okhotsk on Thursday morning.

Local media reported that more than 200 train services will be suspended in Hokkaido and that schools have canceled classes, as the weather agency has issued alerts for floods, high waves, as well as landslides.

Residents in Japan's northernmost area have also been warned to remain vigilant for flying debris caused by the powerful gusts the typhoon is packing. Enditem