Japan is bracing for torrential rain, powerful winds and possible flooding as Typhoon Dujuan approaches the country's eastern coast, with the storm expected to pass close to the Tokyo metropolitan area on Monday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned of a heightened risk of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and rivers overflowing as the powerful typhoon moves northward toward the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo. Authorities have also urged residents to remain alert for violent winds, high waves and rapidly developing rain bands capable of producing intense rainfall over short periods.

Dujuan, the 25th named storm of the year in Japan, was moving north-northeast at about 20 kilometers per hour on Monday morning. The storm had a central pressure of 965 hectopascals, with sustained winds of around 126 km/h and gusts reaching 180 km/h, according to the JMA.

The typhoon was forecast to pass near the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, from Monday evening into the late hours. The storm's large circulation means heavy rain is expected across a broad area even before its closest approach to the capital.

The JMA forecast rainfall of up to 350 millimeters in the Tokai region, 300 mm in the Kanto region and the Izu Islands, and 200 mm in Tohoku over a 24-hour period through Tuesday morning.

Some areas had already received exceptionally heavy rainfall. Izu Oshima recorded 387.5 mm in the 24 hours through Monday morning, while Kimitsu in Chiba Prefecture received 283.5 mm, according to the weather agency.

Forecasters have warned that so-called linear rain bands could develop over parts of eastern Japan. Such systems can concentrate intense rainfall over relatively small areas, increasing the risk of flash flooding, landslides and rapidly rising rivers.

The JMA has urged people in vulnerable areas to monitor evacuation information and avoid unnecessary travel as conditions deteriorate.

The storm has already disrupted transportation during Japan's five-day Silver Week holiday.

At least 275 flights were cancelled on Monday, according to reports, while airlines warned that additional services could be affected as the typhoon approaches the Tokyo area.

Rail operators have also suspended or reduced services. East Japan Railway has announced partial or full-day suspensions on several lines in Chiba, Ibaraki and western Tokyo, while other operators have warned of possible further disruptions.

Major roads and expressways have also faced restrictions, adding to concerns about travel during the holiday period.

The storm has affected major public events as well. Organizers of the Tokyo Game Show cancelled its Monday program, cutting the five-day event short by one day.

The typhoon has also disrupted events connected to the 2026 Asian Games in the Nagoya area. Organizers have been monitoring the storm closely, with some competitions already delayed or postponed because of severe weather.

Dujuan comes as Japan and the wider Pacific region face a period of heightened tropical activity.

The JMA recorded 25 tropical cyclones in 2026 through Sept. 17, although the agency's annual count is based on storms meeting its typhoon criteria and its figures remain subject to revision.

The storm is also developing against the backdrop of a strengthening El Niño in the tropical Pacific. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said in September that El Niño conditions were strengthening, with more than a 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter of 2026-27. NOAA said there was also a 75% chance that the October-December period would see an event reaching a level that would rank among the strongest recorded since 1950.

However, while El Niño can alter atmospheric and oceanic conditions that influence tropical cyclone activity, its relationship with any individual storm is complex. The current reports do not establish that El Niño alone caused Typhoon Dujuan.

Japan's authorities are now focused on the immediate threat posed by heavy rain, flooding, landslides and strong winds as Dujuan moves past the Kanto region and toward the Pacific.

The typhoon is expected to continue northeastward after passing Japan and gradually weaken as it moves farther into the Pacific. (ILKHA)