Japan Meteorological Information: Chan-hom to Hit Kanto and Tohoku on Aug. 11

According to meteorological information and weather forecasts on Monday, August 10, 2026, Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) sat east of Japan’s main islands and was expected to approach Kanto and southern Tohoku, with a likely landfall on Tuesday, August 11 near the Ibaraki–Fukushima border. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned of heavy rain, gale-force winds, high waves, and possible landslides as the storm crossed Honshu during the Bon holiday and Mountain Day public holiday.

Editor’s note: This article draws on JMA forecasts, reporting by The Japan Times, Weathernews, and Japanese transport operators, August 10, 2026. Typhoon tracks can shift; check official weather and transport updates before traveling.

Current position and forecast track

As of 9:00 a.m. JST on August 10, Chan-hom was located at roughly 33.8°N, 149.7°E — east of Japan — moving northwest at about 25 km/h (roughly 9 knots), according to JMA and Weathernews. Central pressure was about 990 hPa, with maximum sustained winds near 40 knots and gusts up to 60 knots.

The storm is expected to turn more westward as it nears Honshu, intensifying slightly over warmer Pacific waters east of Kanto. JMA projections point to landfall on the afternoon or evening of August 11, likely along the Pacific coast between northern Ibaraki and southern Fukushima — an area spanning northern Kanto and southern Tohoku.

Detail	Forecast
Landfall window	Late Tuesday, Aug. 11, through early Wednesday
Likely landfall zone	Ibaraki–Fukushima border (northern Kanto / southern Tohoku)
Peak pressure (forecast)	~980 hPa by Tuesday morning
After landfall	Cross Honshu toward the Sea of Japan; likely weaken to tropical depression

Why this track is unusual

Most typhoons that affect eastern Japan approach from the south or southwest. Chan-hom is taking a rare east-to-west crossing of Honshu’s Pacific side after developing east of the archipelago.

Japanese forecasters note that only three comparable landfalls from eastern waters have been recorded since 1951. A direct hit on Ibaraki or Fukushima would be the first documented landfall in either prefecture, according to The Japan Times.

Recent model runs have shifted the expected track southward, widening the zone of concern from southern Tohoku down through Kanto — including coastal Chiba’s Boso Peninsula — though the Ibaraki–Fukushima corridor remains the highest-probability target.

Weather impacts: rain, wind, and waves

Rain

JMA said Tuesday could bring up to 40 millimeters of rain per hour in Tohoku, with bursts of 30–50 mm/h that officials describe as feeling like rain “in buckets.” As Chan-hom turns west, heavy rain is expected to spread across:

• Tohoku Pacific coast (primary risk zone)
• Kanto (especially eastern prefectures)
• Parts of Hokuriku

Weathernews warned that warm, moist air wrapping around the typhoon’s north side will fuel developing rain clouds, with peak severe weather in Kanto from Tuesday evening onward.

Wind

Maximum gusts could reach 30 meters per second (108 km/h). Coastal Tohoku began seeing strengthening winds on August 10; Pacific-facing Kanto shores may see gusts around 10 m/s before the storm nears. Wind exposure expands rapidly as the typhoon approaches; a further southward track would raise wind risk across greater Kanto.

Waves and coastal hazards

Wave heights along the Pacific coast could approach 3 meters by Monday night and exceed 4 meters as the storm nears. Officials urge people to avoid coastal leisure activities, seawalls, and breakwaters where sudden large waves can strike without warning.

Official warnings

JMA said Monday it is highly likely to issue warnings for heavy rain, strong winds, and landslides in Fukushima Prefecture for Tuesday. Residents and Bon-holiday travelers in eastern Japan should monitor alerts and municipal guidance.

Transport and holiday disruption

The timing overlaps with Obon summer travel and Mountain Day (August 11), raising concerns about highway congestion, rail delays, and airport cancellations.

Operator / route	Status as of Aug. 10
All Nippon Airways (ANA)	Flights to/from Haneda, Narita, Fukushima, and Sendai may be affected
Japan Airlines (JAL)	No operational impact announced
East Japan Railway (JR East)	No schedule changes announced for Tōhoku or Yamagata Shinkansen lines through Fukushima
MOL Sunflower ferries	Oarai (Ibaraki)–Tomakomai (Hokkaido) sailings canceled Tuesday and Wednesday

Travelers should confirm flights, ferries, and rail service before departure and allow extra time on roads in rain-affected areas.

Other active storms

Japan is also tracking other tropical systems in the region. Typhoon Dolphin was weakening, while Typhoon Peilou was moving east of Japan — adding to an active typhoon season but not directly threatening the same landfall zone as Chan-hom.

What residents and visitors should do

Japanese disaster agencies routinely advise the following when a typhoon approaches:

• Secure outdoor items and check drainage around homes.
• Stock drinking water, food, and a flashlight; charge mobile devices.
• Avoid unnecessary travel on Tuesday, especially along the Pacific coast.
• Stay away from rivers, cliffs, and coastlines during heavy rain and high surf.
• Follow municipal evacuation information if landslide or flood warnings are issued.

Real-time typhoon weather information is available through the JMA website and official disaster apps. Local TV and radio carry hourly updates during active storms.

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Discussion

1. If you are traveling in eastern Japan during the Bon holiday, would you change plans now — or wait for a clearer Tuesday forecast?

Holiday traffic, canceled ferries, and possible flight disruptions make early decisions costly. Where do you draw the line between caution and overreacting?

2. Chan-hom’s east-to-west Honshu crossing is rare in modern records. Does that change how you think about typhoon preparedness in places that historically saw fewer direct hits?

Ibaraki and Fukushima may face their first documented typhoon landfalls. Should infrastructure and local expectations shift as storm tracks become less predictable?

Share how you are preparing — or whether you are watching from abroad and planning around the forecast.