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The Izu Islands have faced yet another severe impact as Typhoon Nakri swept through the area on Monday, coming just after storm Halong, which hit a week earlier.

Immediate Impact on Hachijojima Island

Local authorities on Hachijojima noted interruptions and destruction to about 220 homes after the storm brought an hour of rainfall totaling 37mm and gusts of up to 95mph (152km/h). Airport operations were disrupted, public facilities harmed, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the island chain. The typhoon also produced waves as high as 9 meters, creating dangerous coastal conditions. Off the Pacific coast in Oiso, in Kanagawa prefecture, three fishermen were carried off by waves, with one fatality reported.

The Evolution of Nakri

Nakri has since transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, losing strength while traveling east over chilled northern Pacific seas, with wind speeds dropping to about 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remnants are on track to reach British Columbia, Canada, delivering intense precipitation, powerful gusts, and coastal flooding.

Remembering Halong's Impact

A week earlier, Halong discharged over 200mm of precipitation within three hours, as maximum sustained winds reached 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, rainfall totals reached 349mm, shattering the 24-hour record. The typhoon’s remnants then traveled over the northern Pacific and arrived in Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.

Alaska's Severe Damage

The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. A single fatality occurred, homes were destroyed, and nearly 1,500 people had to evacuate to safe zones. The state underwent one of the largest airlifts in its history to evacuate displaced residents. Halong remains one of the most powerful storms the region has experienced. Its rapid intensification was fuelled by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which provided extra heat and moisture.

Twin Disasters in Mexico

At the same time, the country faced two consecutive hits last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond converged, releasing nearly 609mm of precipitation over four days across the central and eastern areas. Guided by a trough in the air current, the two weather events struck the same zone one after another. The initial heavy rains from Priscilla left the ground saturated, worsening floods as Raymond approached. More than 300 communities were affected by landslides and overflowing rivers. As of Wednesday, 66 people have been confirmed dead and 75 individuals are still unaccounted for. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with standing water causing health worries in isolated areas.