[REVISION HISTORY]

Japan July 2026 heavy rain & thunderstorm alerts

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-27 01:42 UTC → 2026-07-27 09:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Mid‑July 2026 saw a wave of Level 4 heavy‑rain warnings sweep across central and eastern Japan. Starting on 16 July, thunderstorms caused record one‑hour rainfall, river rises, road closures and a landslide that buried a house in Kumamoto, Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Gunma and nearby prefectures. By the end of the month the focus shifted northward as a stationary front dumped intense rain on Niigata and Tochigi, prompting Level 4 alerts for cities such as Gosen, Niigata, Aga and Utsunomiya, forecasts of up to 60 mm per hour, and JR East suspending several lines. Flood‑risk warnings persisted through 24‑26 July, with thunderstorm alerts in dozens of Kumamoto municipalities, flash‑flood and landslide danger in Niigata, and a fireworks festival in Kashiwazaki proceeding under contingency plans. On 26‑27 July the disturbance spread westward. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued thunderstorm warnings for Kumamoto, Shimane, Tottori, Ishikawa, Toyama and Tochigi, urging indoor sheltering against flash floods, landslides and strong gusts. Ishikawa recorded its first Level 3 heavy‑rain warning since the system’s inception, covering Kanazawa and Nanao and triggering mandatory evacuations. Over 200 mm of rain fell in parts of Toyama, while a lightning strike disabled Noto Railway signalling, halting service. Heat‑related illnesses were reported in Kanazawa, with two women taken for suspected heatstroke. ~~The~~ Further impacts on 27‑28 July included expanded ~~alerts underscored~~ thunderstorm warnings for dozens of Kumamoto municipalities and intense rain‑and‑hail forecasts for the ~~nationwide impact on transportation, public safety~~ Kanto‑Koshin area, predicting up to 100 mm in 24 hours. In Niigata City a ground‑floor restaurant was completely flooded, forcing the owner to discard food supplies. The Noto Railway interruption continued after a lightning strike at Noto Nakajima Station, and ~~infrastructure.~~ a second heat‑stroke case was recorded in Nomi. Kyoto Prefecture issued an early heavy‑rain warning for its southern region, cautioning of possible flooding on 27 July.

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