[debono]

Typhoon In-fa is bearing down on the southern Japanese islands and has its eye set on eastern China by next week. The storm could bring extremely heavy rainfall totals to millions in China and Taiwan.

And behind In-fa, there is a tropical threat for northern and central parts of Japan, which could potentially impact the Olympic Games by early next week.

Typhoon In-fa is currently located about 320 kilometres from Okinawa and is starting to move northwest. The storm's maximum winds are at 150 kph, from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). In-fa has had slight weakening mid-week due to dry air, thus weakening its thunderstorms, as well as slightly cooler sea surface temperatures. The good news is no significant strengthening of this storm is expected because of this; but it will still be a Category 2 equivalent hurricane impacting land in the northwest Pacific Ocean. In-fa will continue to slowly track in the general northwest direction through Friday local time with maximum winds around 160 to 165 kph while impacting Okinawa and other parts of the southern Japanese islands.

In addition to the strong winds, there will continue to be heavy rain. The area in and near Miyakojima, Japan, will be in the bull's-eye of the heavy rain, with an additional 500-plus millimetres of rainfall forecast.

On the heels of Typhoon In-fa is the potential for a new tropical cyclone to form in the western Pacific Ocean.

There are many unknowns surrounding the forecast on this next storm but the model guidance for several days has indicated a tropical storm or typhoon risk for northern and central portions of Japan around Sunday or Monday. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center gives this area to watch a medium chance for potential tropical development in the short term. At this time, heavy rain and gusty winds are possible for east central Japan by early next week, which could interrupt some events at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In the wake of covid virus, Japan should postpone the Olympics games.