Japan orders evacuation of more than 1 million as country braces for as much as 20 inches of rain

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Heavy rainfall overspread southern Japan on Wednesday, causing flooding and prompting the government to issue evacuationdirectives to more than 1 million people.

Torrential rainfall engulfed southern parts of Japan's Kyushu Island, resulting in flooding and mudslides, with more heavy rainfall expected in the coming days.

Rainfall since Monday has totaled more than 620 mm (24 inches) in Miyakonojo, and more than 520 mm (20 inches) in Kagoshima.

Rainfall rates in excess of 75 mm (3 inches) per hour were reported at times on Wednesday in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The rain has been responsible for at least one fatality as an elderlywomen was found dead in a mudslide in Kagoshima, according to The Associated Press.

Flooding across southern Kyushu has inundated dozens of homes, and additional rainfall in the coming days may worsen current conditions.

Kagoshima Governor Satoshi Mitazono mobilized the Self-Defense forces to assist with disaster relief, according to the Japan Times.

The worst of the flooding has been confined to southern Kyushu as of Wednesday; however, downpours will expand northeastward, bringing the risk for flooding and mudslides into Shikoku and eastern Honshu.

While Kyushu gets a brief break from the downpours, heavy rainfall will target Shikoku and eastern Honshu, including Tokyo, on Thursday and Thursday night.

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These downpours will be capable of producing flash flooding, mudslides and travel disruptions.

Heavy rainfall will again target areas from Kyushu to eastern Honshu on Friday and Friday night.

The area of greatest concern during this time will be the southern coast of Shikoku and locations in Honshu from Wakayama to the Greater Tokyo Area.

A final round of downpours will once again threaten eastern Japan on Saturday, with lingering rainfall into Saturday night across eastern Honshu.

New rainfall totals of 125-250 mm (5-10 inches) are expected through Saturday from Kyushu to eastern Honshu, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 500 mm (20 inches).

This may not be the end of flooding problems for Japan as moisture from Tropical Storm Mun may be pulled across the country around Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, bringing another round of heavy rainfall.