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October 7th, 2009, 1:26 pm
Some of you may have already heard and been asking about the cancelled classes tomorrow due to weather. It is decided on a city-by-city basis for elementary and junior high schools. So far, Kahoku-shi, Nomi-shi and various Kanazawa-schools (KZ's BOE is still deliberating, however, I've been told some schools are being extra cautious). For the prefectural BOE folks - high school closures will be decided by each principal.

The storm has been weakening over the past day or two, but again it is good to be cautious and get ready for the possible high winds, and to a lesser extent since we're used to it, the rain. Please check with your schools and offices about your own schedule tomorrow. If you can, ask a teacher or office member who lives nearby if you may car pool with them if you are still required to go in (as I think most, if not all of us) regardless of a lack of classes.

Area leaders have been asked to help double check that everyone, knows the contact details of those in your area, if they have not already.

In each school, like we have for JETs, there is an emergency phone tree system that lists everyone at your school or office's phone numbers. Please ask your office and schools for a copy of the phone tree if you do not have one already. Typically, JETs are the end of the line and your supervisor is responsible for contacting you.

Please contact me, Bill, Rohan, or your area leader if you have any questions or need assistance.

Please be careful! Stay safe and stay dry.

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October 7th, 2009, 1:28 pm
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20091007x1.html
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
Kyodo News

A very strong typhoon that is expected to become the first tropical cyclone to make landfall in Japan in two years was moving closer toward Japan's mainland Wednesday, bringing a heavy storm to Okinawa and the southern Kyushu region.

Typhoon Melor, this season's 18th typhoon, was traveling northwards in the Pacific about 270 km south of Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at a speed of 35 km per hour at 9 a.m., with a maximum wind velocity of 162 kph around its center, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It is likely to hit somewhere between western and eastern Japan on Thursday, becoming the first typhoon since September 2007 to make landfall in Japan.

On Kagoshima's Amamioshima Island in the morning, a storm with a wind velocity of 90 kph or stronger was observed, the agency said.

The last time a typhoon made landfall in Japan was September 2007, when Typhoon Fitow hit the Kanto region. No typhoon made landfall last year for the first time in eight years.

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October 7th, 2009, 1:37 pm
Here is the current expected path:
http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/news/images/20091007k0000e040053000p_size5.jpg

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FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
October 7th, 2009, 3:07 pm
Warnings are going out for all people living next to or near rivers, canals or waterways to be aware of the possibility of flash floods.

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October 7th, 2009, 3:16 pm
most of Kaga and Komatsu, all of Nomi-shi's elem. and JHS, most of Kanazawa's elem. and JHS, all of Kahoku's elem. and JHS, Nishiki Chu have canceled classes.

I've been told that Noto and Nanao BOEs are still deliberating.

Again, please check with your offices and schools about procedures for tomorrow.

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Postby dipstar » October 7th, 2009, 3:23 pm
As far as I know all Hodatsushimizu and Hakui Elementary and Junior High schools are closed tomorrow too.

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October 7th, 2009, 3:25 pm
It was just called in - ALL JHS AND ELEMENTARY CLASSES IN ISHIKAWA ARE CANCELLED TOMORROW!!!

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October 7th, 2009, 4:05 pm
Here's a clearer picture of the storm path:

(From the Japan Meteorlogical Agency: http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/091824.html)

The midnight mark is apparently what they are watching closely to see where it will head.

The expected path is the dotted line that goes through Shiga, Aichi, Nagano and Toyama(hitting Mt. Hakusan)...
If it heads west, we'll get one hell of a storm (also hitting Hakusan)
If it heads east, more Kanto will have teh fun times.

http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/images/zoom24d/0918-00.png

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October 8th, 2009, 8:25 am
The storm took the expected path and is heading over Aichi and Nagano... the mountains are slowing down the storm, but that means a lot of rain is coming our way. Basically, the mountains are making that wedge shape in the cloud that is stopping the storm and making it swing around the mountains to hit us with rain.

Please be careful getting to and from work today - again, car pool if you can. If you are driving, please, please, please use extreme caution.

Keep and ear out in your areas for dangerous conditions, and before you leave work ask a co-worker about the conditions for the rest of tonight and tomorrow morning if you are unsure.

http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/gms/smallc.html