Super Typhoon Songda
Super Typhoon headed for Okinawa - Warden Message
Okinawa typhoon season runs between June to November and 25% of Okinawa’s annual rain fall is brought by typhoons. Most typhoons occur during July, August, and September. Typhoonscan be very powerful and destructive, although similar to hurricanes they rarely reach the same level of force as the similar Atlantic storms. It's best to stay indoors during a typhoon in Okinawato avoid injury or death from flying debris. If a typhoon occurs English language typhooninformation can be found on military weather radio stations 648 AM and 89.1 FM or at Typhoon Information (Japan Meteorological Agency) -- Check out Chris Wilson's blog for some typhoon tips!
May 26, 2011This warden message is being issued by the U.S. Embassy in Japan to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Okinawa, Japan that the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued alerts for a Category 4 storm, Super Typhoon Songda, that as of 1555 (local time) on May 26 was located approximately 1213 kilometers (or 754 miles) to the southeast at N15°35'(15.6°) degrees north latitude, E125°50'(125.8°) degrees east longitude, traveling to the NNW at 10 knots (19 km/h) in the direction of Okinawa. It is expected to pass directly over Okinawa around 1500 (local time) on Saturday, May 28. All U.S. military bases on Okinawa are expected to be closed to the public on May 28. The U.S. Consulate General in Naha, Okinawais normally closed on Saturdays.The Japan Meteorological Agency reports that the maximum sustained wind speed near the center of the storm is 105 knots (195 km/h) with gusts of 150 knots (278 km/h). Super Typhoon Songda’s winds are expected to maintain their strength over the next 24 hours, but weakening somewhat in the next 48 hours. Sustained maximum winds when the storm makes landfall on Okinawa are predicted to be as high as 90 knots (167 km/h).The Kadena Weather Flight at Kadena Air Base has issued a Tropical Cyclone Condition Of Readiness (TCCOR) 3 alert, meaning that destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within the next 48 hours. All outside items should be removed or secured, and residents should stock up on emergency supplies of food, water, and cash in case of storm-related power outages.[ad]For further details, see either of the following websites:Japan Meteorological Agency: http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center's Tropical Cyclone Warning:http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp0411.gifWe will continue to monitor Typhoon Songda’s track and will issue updated messages as appropriate. Please monitor the typhoon’s track by listening to the radio, watching television, or monitoring AFN radio at 89.1 FM. Locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. Carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. You should also contact friends and family in the United States with updates about your whereabouts.Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found on our “Hurricane/Typhoon Season” webpage, and on the “Natural Disasters” page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Updated information on travel in Japan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).Please continue to monitor the Embassy’s website, http://japan.usembassy.gov/, for updated information. Please consult the Country Specific Information Sheet for Japan, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html.For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of either the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or one of the U.S. Consulates in Japan listed below:U.S. Embassy in TokyoAmerican Citizen Services1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420Tel: 03-3224-5174After Hours: 03-3224-5000Fax: 03-3224-5856http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/tacs-main.htmlThe U.S. Embassy serves Americans in Tokyo, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Yamagata and Yamanashi.Consulates:• Osaka-Kobe: 11-5, Nishitenma 2-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543; Tel: 06-6315-5912, Fax: 06-6315-5914; serving Americans in Osaka, Tel: 06-6315-5912, Fax: 06-6315-5914; serving Americans in Osaka, Aichi, Ehime, Fukui, Gifu, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kochi, Kyoto, Mie, Nara,Okayama, Shimane, Shiga, Tokushima, Tottori, Toyama, and Wakayama prefectures. http://osaka.usconsulate.gov/• Nagoya: Nagoya International Center Bldg. 6th floor, 1-47-1 Nagono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 450-0001; Tel (052) 581-4501, Fax: (052) 581-3190; providing emergency consular services only (including death and arrest cases) for Americans living in Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures.http://nagoya.usconsulate.gov/• Fukuoka: 5-26, Ohori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0052; Tel: 092-751-9331, Fax: 092-713-9222; serving Americans in Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga and Yamaguchi prefectures. http://japan.usembassy.gov/fukuoka/wwwhmain.html• Sapporo: Kita 1-jo, Nishi 28-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0821; Tel: 011-641-1115, Fax: 011-643-1283; serving Americans in Akita, Aomori, Hokkaido, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. http://sapporo.usconsulate.gov/• Naha: 2-1-1 Toyama, Urasoe City, Okinawa 901-2104; Phone: 098.876.4211, Fax: 098.876.4243, DSN: 645-7323; serving Americans in Okinawa and the Amami Oshima Island grouphttp://naha.usconsulate.gov/[ad]
