Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) has downgraded to a Tropical Storm as it moves past the Nansei Islands. However, Japan continues to face a complex dual-storm scenario. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Typhoon No. 8 (Higos)—also currently at Tropical Storm intensity—has shifted its track westward and is now forecast to closely approach or make landfall over Eastern Japan on Saturday. Concurrently, moisture from both systems is feeding into a stalled front, bringing a risk of extreme rainfall to the Pacific coast.
CURRENT STATUS
Based on the latest JMA observations on June 26:
Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) (as of 10:00 JST / 01:00 UTC)
- Location: Approximately 150 km north of Kumejima (27.6°N, 127.1°E)
- Intensity: Tropical Storm
- Movement: North-Northeast at 10 kt (20 km/h)
- Central pressure: 990 hPa
- Maximum sustained winds: 45 kt (83 km/h)
Typhoon No. 8 (Higos) (as of 09:00 JST / 00:00 UTC)
- Location: South of Japan (24.5°N, 133.5°E)
- Intensity: Tropical Storm
- Movement: North at 20 kt (35 km/h)
- Central pressure: 998 hPa
- Maximum sustained winds: 45 kt (83 km/h)
Himawari-8 Satellite View (True Color): Recent 1-hour time-lapse (Valid 01:00-02:00 UTC, June 26) showing the dual-storm structure of Typhoon No. 7 and Typhoon No. 8 south of Japan.
FORECAST TRACK SUMMARY
Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) is moving away from the immediate Nansei Islands. It is forecast to shift its path eastward while accelerating, approaching the Pacific coasts of Western and Eastern Japan on June 27. Simultaneously, Typhoon No. 8 (Higos) is tracking northward south of Japan. The JMA notes that the track for Higos has shifted slightly westward; it will closely approach the Pacific coast of Eastern Japan on June 27 and may make landfall. Following this, both systems are expected to transition into extratropical lows east of Japan.
INTENSITY FORECAST
Recent observations indicate Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) has weakened, with its central pressure rising to 990 hPa and maximum sustained winds decreasing to 45 kt (83 km/h). Typhoon No. 8 (Higos) is currently sustaining identical winds of 45 kt (83 km/h). Both systems are expected to weaken further as they interact with a stalled seasonal front along Japan's coast.
IMPACTS & THREATS
Warm, moist air from both typhoons is feeding a stalled front extending from the East China Sea across the Pacific coast of Japan, severely destabilising the atmosphere. The JMA has issued warnings for the following hazards:
- Extreme Rainfall: Up to 200 mm of rain is forecast across the Tokai, Kinki, Shikoku, and Okinawa regions by 06:00 JST on June 27. Over the subsequent 24 hours, the Tokai region may receive an additional 300 mm, with 200 mm expected in Kanto-Koshin.
- Strong Winds: While peak winds have decreased, strong gusts of up to 68 kt (126 km/h) will continue to threaten the Okinawa, Amami, and Kanto-Koshin regions through June 27 as the systems approach.
- Dangerous Swells: Severe swells with wave heights up to 7 meters are currently affecting the Okinawa and southern Kyushu regions. By June 27, massive swells up to 6 meters will impact the Kanto-Koshin, Tokai, and Kinki coasts.
OPERATIONAL PORT FORECASTS
The hazards associated with this dual-storm system will vary by region. While Naha Port faces extreme wind hazards as Mekkhala passes closely by the islands, the primary risk for mainland ports like Shimizu and Yokohama shifts to torrential precipitation, driven by the typhoons feeding moisture into the stalled seasonal front.
NAHA, Okinawa Island, Nansei Islands
SHIMIZU, Suruga Bay, Central Honshu
YOKOHAMA, Tokyo Bay, Eastern Honshu
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Note on storm names: The name "Mekkhala" was contributed by Thailand and translates to the "Angel of Thunder," while "Higos" was contributed by the United States and means "fig" in the Chamorro language. The WMO and the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee adopt these names sequentially to make tracking specific storms straightforward and to quickly communicate warnings. To learn more about how storms are named, please visit the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) website.
