The typhoon season in Japan lasts from June to December but storms are most likely to hit from July to September. Typhoons are accompanied by heavy rain, high-speed winds and tidal surges. Japan's steep, mountainous terrain and its volcanic ash soils mean that landslides are frequent when typhoons hit.
What to do in a typhoon?[]
- Keep yourself up to date. Check out the Japanese Meteorological Agency's English website for forecasts of all typhoons likely to hit Japan.
- If you haven't already, prepare some kind of emergency kit with bottled water, canned food and can opener, torch (flashlight) with spare batteries, a radio, candles and matches, copies of your essential documents and some money.
- If the typhoon is heading your way, start by bringing any outdoor items that could be blown around inside your house. For example clothes lines, plant pots, bicycles etc.
- Close all your windows and doors except for one window on the side of the building facing away from the oncoming storm which should be left open a crack. This will minimise the difference in air pressure inside and outside. Close your curtains to protect against flying glass should windows break.
- If a window does break, place a matress or futon over the window and secure it with a heavy piece of furniture.
- Once the typhoon has passed, check for broken windows and beware of fallen trees, downed power cables etc. which can be a safety hazard.