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The Izu Islands have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri moved across the region on Monday, coming just after storm Halong, which struck seven days prior.

Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima

Local authorities on Hachijojima reported disruption and damage to approximately 220 residences after the typhoon brought 37mm (1.5in) of rain in one hour and gusts of up to 95mph (152km/h). Flight services were interrupted, public facilities harmed, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the group of islands. The storm also produced waves as high as 9 meters, creating dangerous coastal conditions. Near Oiso on the Pacific side, in Kanagawa prefecture, three men were swept away while fishing, one of whom has been confirmed dead.

Nakri's Transformation

The storm has since shifted into an non-tropical storm system, losing strength while traveling east over chilled northern Pacific seas, with wind speeds dropping to about 65mph as of Thursday. Riding the jet stream, its remaining parts are headed to reach British Columbia, Canada, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.

Remembering Halong's Impact

A week earlier, Halong had unleashed over 200mm of precipitation within three hours, as peak wind speeds hit 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, rainfall totals reached 349mm, breaking the daily rainfall record. The typhoon’s remnants then traveled over the northern Pacific and arrived in Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.

Significant Harm in Alaska

The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. A single fatality occurred, homes were destroyed, and about 1,500 residents were forced into shelters. Alaska experienced an historic mass evacuation by air to relocate affected individuals. Halong stands as among the strongest cyclones the area has ever seen. Its rapid intensification was fuelled by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.

Twin Disasters in Mexico

At the same time, the country endured a double blow 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 first deluge from Priscilla left the ground saturated, intensifying flooding when Raymond arrived. Over 300 localities were affected by landslides and overflowing rivers. As of Wednesday, 66 fatalities were verified and 75 remain missing. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with standing water causing health worries in remote zones.