Winds, heavy rain and earthquake (Eastern Japan)

 April 3, 2013

High winds, heavy rain hit eastern Japan

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130403p2g00m0dm031000c.html

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Eastern Japan was buffeted Wednesday by strong winds and heavy rain due to a low pressure system and a cold air front, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Another low pressure system is expected to travel near Japan again on Saturday and Sunday, bringing torrential rain to a wide area of the country, according to the agency

On Wednesday, the maximum wind velocity reached 144 kilometers per hour, comparable to a typhoon, in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture.

The agency continued to warn that Pacific coastal areas stretching from Hokkaido to the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo are expected to be affected by high waves on Thursday.

April 2, 2013

Magnitude-6 quake off Japan

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130402p2g00m0dm001000c.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- A magnitude-6.0 undersea earthquake hit off eastern Japan, the U.S. Geological Survey reported Monday. No tsunami alert was issued.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which the USGS said happened at 4:53 a.m. Tuesday local time (1853 GMT Monday).

The USGS said the quake hit some 107 kilometers (66 miles) east of Miyako, Japan, and some 327 kilometers (526 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

Japan's Meteorological Agency and the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency issued no tsunami warnings or alerts.