Typhoon Francisco continues to track northwest towards the southern Japanese islands today. Already winds up to Tropical Storm Strength has been reported in Daito Jima with gust at the Kadena AB reaching 30kts just shy of TS strength on Tuesday Evening.

The major change in this evenings forecast is the long rang outlook. Much of Mainland Japan will be spared by the strong winds presented by this storm as it rushes north. Still though wide spread rain showers will be expected across western and central Japan on Friday in to Saturday morning. Gusty winds and heavy rainfall will also impact the Izu islands where Typhoon Wipha left a path of destruction in its wake last week.

Typhoon Francisco will start to impact the southern Japanese islands on Wednesday night in to Thursday morning bringing in high waves at first along with scattered showers sometimes becoming heavy and max winds likely at strong Tropical Storm Strength. (40-50G60kts) The worst of the weather will remain on the northern and western coastlines of the Okinawa and the Kagoshima islands taking the brunt of the storm.

Winds in the southern half of Okinawa are forecasted to peak at 35-45G55kts on Wednesday overnight through Thursday morning.This will be reserved to the western sea boards and along coastal areas. If you’re in a sheltered area of course the winds will be much lower. The northern and north western half of the island will see the winds for a longer period of time on Thursday along with the Amami islands in Kagoshima.

As of writing this update on Tuesday morning the US Military in Okinawa was in TCCOR 3.

Through Thursday in to Friday much weaker Francisco will skirt the Japanese coastline with the center of circulation staying off shore. Typhoon Lekima should have enough influence on Francisco to cause it to swing away from the Japan Coastline. Francisco by that time will have a higher pressure than Lekima. This means it may get absorbed by Lekima thus moving east towards the storm and away from Japan. Still though moisture from Francisco and a Stationary boundary over Japan will bring the main threat of heavy rainfall across the area. Expect low lying urban and river flooding in Tokyo along with dangerous waves near coastal areas. Areas of heaviest rainfall could see the risk of mudslides by Friday Evening in to Saturday Morning. The worst likely being on the Kii-Pennisula and the Izu islands which are still recovering from the impacts of Typhoon Wipha.

29 people have been confirmed dead and 16 are still missing following the massive record breaking amount of rainfall brought in by Wipha across Izu Oshima. Rescue workers continue to work around the clock in search of the missing.

Nursing facilities and clinics on the island are set to be closed as a precaution ahead of the storm.

Oshima Town officials are also making arrangements to evacuate about 550 elderly and disabled people from the island.

By Saturday Afternoon in to Evening Parts of Hokkaido and northern Honshu could see snowfall from the storm.