Tokyo Flights and Shinkansen Services Halted as Typhoon Ampil Approaches

On Friday, flights and trains in the Tokyo area were disrupted as Typhoon Ampil approached Japan, bringing warnings of strong winds, heavy rains, and potential flooding and mudslides.

The typhoon, categorized as “very strong,” prompted the grounding of hundreds of flights and the evacuation advisories for nearly 10,000 households. With wind speeds reaching up to 216 kph (134 mph), Typhoon Ampil caused power outages in the Kanto region and led to the cancellation of over 600 domestic and international flights, affecting approximately 120,000 passengers.

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High-speed Shinkansen train services between Tokyo and Nagoya were suspended for the day due to the storm. Other Shinkansen services running to northeastern Japan and some local Tokyo trains were either temporarily halted or adjusted to a slower schedule.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that Typhoon Ampil, with sustained winds of 162 kph (101 mph) and higher gusts, was expected to approach the waters near Tokyo in the evening before continuing north. The typhoon is anticipated to bring stormy conditions to the northern Kanto and Tohoku regions early Saturday. Although it was not expected to make landfall, Ampil is predicted to weaken into a tropical storm by Sunday.

In addition to the flight cancellations, Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports, as well as Kansai and Chubu airports, experienced significant disruptions. The storm also led to partial closures of several highways.

Key Points:

1. Typhoon Impact: Typhoon Ampil, classified as “very strong,” caused significant disruptions in the Tokyo area, including the cancellation of over 600 flights and suspension of Shinkansen train services.
2. Travel Disruptions: The storm led to the grounding of hundreds of flights, affecting around 120,000 passengers, and halted high-speed train services between Tokyo and Nagoya for the day.
3. Evacuation Advisories: Nearly 10,000 households in the Tokyo area were advised to evacuate as the typhoon approached.
4. Weather Conditions: The typhoon, with wind speeds up to 216 kph (134 mph), caused power blackouts in the Kanto region and was expected to bring stormy conditions to northern Kanto and Tohoku regions.
5. Forecast: Typhoon Ampil is anticipated to move northward without making landfall and is expected to weaken into a tropical storm by Sunday.