Typhoon Sinlaku heading for southern Japan by Steph Ball
Having drenched Taiwan over the weekend, Typhoon Sinlaku is now heading across the East China Sea en route to Japan.
Sinlaku slammed into the northeast of Taiwan early on Sunday bringing torrential rain and packing winds of over 100mph (160km/h). Rainfall amounts totted up as the storm became slow moving across the north of Taiwan.
In the 24 hours running up to 0600GMT Monday morning, the World Meteorological Organization reported that approximately 250mm (10 inches) of rain fell in Taizhong, with 386mm (15 inches) of rain in Pengjia Yu. However, there are reports that as much as 1300mm (51 inches) of rain fell across the more mountainous regions, triggering raging floods and landslides.
On Monday morning, Sinlaku is now lying just to the north of Taiwan. In readiness for the storm, China evacuated thousands of residents from its Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. While Sinlaku is not expected to make landfall in China, its effects will be felt as it runs parallel to the coast before heading out towards southern Japan.
Winds this morning were around 75mph (120km/h). Over the next few days Sinlaku is expected to weaken again to a tropical storm, making landfall across southern Japan on Thursday.
