Japanese Archipelago Hit by Back-to-Back Typhoons
The Izu archipelago have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri swept through the region on Monday, coming just after Typhoon Halong, which hit seven days prior.
Initial Consequences on Hachijojima Island
Officials on Hachijojima Island reported disruption and damage to about 220 homes after the storm brought an hour of rainfall totaling 37mm and wind bursts reaching 95mph. Flight services were interrupted, infrastructure damaged, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the group of islands. The storm also produced waves as high as 9 meters, creating dangerous coastal conditions. Near Oiso on the Pacific side, in the Kanagawa region, three men were swept away while fishing, one of whom has been confirmed dead.
Nakri's Transformation
Nakri has since transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, losing strength while traveling east over cooler north Pacific waters, with gusts reducing to around 65mph as of Thursday. Riding the jet stream, its remaining parts are headed to reach British Columbia, Canada, delivering intense precipitation, powerful gusts, and coastal flooding.
Remembering Halong's Impact
Seven days before, Halong had unleashed more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as maximum sustained winds reached 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, rainfall totals reached 349mm, breaking the daily rainfall record. The typhoon’s remnants 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 most affected. One person died, houses were ruined, and nearly 1,500 people had to evacuate to safe zones. The state underwent an historic mass evacuation by air to evacuate displaced residents. Halong stands as among the strongest cyclones the area has ever seen. Its rapid intensification was fuelled by unusually warm north Pacific waters, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.
Twin Disasters in Mexico
At the same time, the country endured a double blow last week as the leftovers of Priscilla and Raymond combined, dumping about 609mm of rain in four days across the central and eastern areas. Steered by a dip in the jet stream, 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 impacted by mudslides and river overflows. By Wednesday, 66 people have been confirmed dead and 75 individuals are still unaccounted for. Search and relief efforts persist, with standing water causing health worries in isolated areas.