Typhoon Jebi became the strongest storm of 2018 after it gained super typhoon status last week.
Jebi, which translates to “swallow” in Korean, is likely to hit Japan tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4.
Currently, Jebi is a Category 3 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustain winds of up to 115mph.
Right now, the storm is churning over the northwestern Pacific Ocean east of Okinawa island, an island on Japan’s southwestern tip as it’s creeping closer to mainland Japan.
While we expect some weakening as Jebi nears landfall in Japan, it should still have the equivalent strength to that of a Category 2 or 3 hurricane
The typhoon was downgraded to a Category 5 typhoon this weekend, and as the winds gusts continue to weaken, forecasters have said the typhoon is likely to be a Category 2 or 1 by the time it makes landfall.
However, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said: “While we expect some weakening as Jebi nears landfall in Japan, it should still have the equivalent strength to that of a Category 2 or 3 hurricane.
“Highest-sustained winds at landfall can be about 145-160 km/h (90-100 mph), which will have the potential to cause significant damage.
“Some wind gusts near the coast could be higher than this.”
Typhoon Jebi update: Japan will be hit by Jebi midday Tuesday (Image: HURRICANEZONE)
No land has currently been affected by the intense typhoon, but “residents from Shikoku and southern and central Honshu should be preparing for a direct hit.”
Mr Douty said: “Damaging winds and coastal flooding may be the most significant impacts with this storm.”
When Jebi reaches land it will be the first “very strong” typhoon to make landfall in Japan since 1993, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency.
Latest warnings issued for Japan
Residents in coastal areas including those around Ise Bay should prepare to evacuate and do so immediately when orders are given by authorities.
Typhoon Jebi update: Jebi is currently a Category 3 hurricane (Image: WINDY)
According to AccuWeather, Jedi is anticipated to “slam” into southern and central Honshu and far eastern Shikoku on Tuesday, before “racing toward Hokkaido Tuesday night into Wednesday”.
In their most recent update, the current forecast track of Jebi puts the prefectures of “Kochi, Tokushima, Wakayama, Nara and Mie at risk for a direct hit and the most destructive winds.”
The weather service also puts Mie, Wakayama, Tokushima, Aichi and Shizuoka at greatest risk of a direct landfall and the most destructive winds.
This includes the cities of Hamamatsu and Shizouka.
Typhoon Jebi update: The map shows Typhoon Jebi’s path over the next few days (Image: AccuWeather)
Tokyo will escape the heaviest rainfall but may experience gusts of 60 to 90mph.
Major travel disruptions are also expected, and trains, metros, ferries and flights may be forced to shut down.
A major railways firm and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka have already said their services will be closed on Tuesday and until further notice.
Schools are also expected to close.
While Jebi remains across open waters, residents should be making final preparations as the typhoon is expected to threaten both lives and property.
Typhoon Jebi update: Residents in coastal areas should prepare to evacuate (Image: HURRICANEZONE)
Parts of western Japan are likely to see up to 11 inches of “deadly rain” in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, the Japanese Meteorological Agency have said.
This is not the first time western Japan is being hit by deadly rain this year.
In July, more than 200 people were killed by heavy rainfall and flooding as Typhoon Prapiroon churned through the country.
So far in 2018, Japan has seen historic flooding, a deadly heatwave and six other storms.
Destructions expected by Jebi would put a further strain on Japan’s disaster recovery budget as the country continues to be hit by devastating natural disasters.