Typhoon Ma-on heading northwest south of Japan

[robdogbucky]

Typhoon Ma-on heading northwest south of Japan

A very large, strong typhoon is over the Pacific Ocean south of Japan.

The Meteorological Agency says typhoon Ma-on was moving north-northwest off Japan's southernmost island of Okinotorishima at 20 kilometers per hour on Sunday afternoon.

The typhoon has a central atmospheric pressure of 935 hectopascals and winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour are blowing near its center.

Sunday, July 17, 2011 12:55 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/17_08.html




Kansai Electric shuts down reactor

A power company in western Japan shut down a reactor on Saturday night at its nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture following trouble in an emergency cooling system.

Kansai Electric said the trouble with a system to inject water into a reactor in the event of an emergency occurred at the Number One reactor in the Ohi plant.

The Fukui prefectural government says it will not approve resumption of the operation of the reactor even after the utility determines the cause of the trouble and comes up with measures to prevent a repetition.

It says the national government's safety stress test of nuclear power plants should take place before any reactors resume operation.

Of the 54 reactors in Japan, 18 now remain in operation.

Sunday, July 17, 2011 11:02 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/17_07.html




Another 84 cows in Fukushima found to have been fed contaminated straw

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Authorities in Fukushima Prefecture, where the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant is located, said Saturday they have discovered that another 84 cows shipped from five beef cattle farms in the prefecture were fed with straw contaminated with high levels of radioactive cesium.

The latest finding showed that a total of 143 cows exposed or suspected of having been exposed to radioactive cesium were already shipped to at least 35 of Japan's 47 prefectures, according to a calculation by Kyodo News.

The 84 cows were shipped to eight prefectures -- Miyagi, Fukushima, Yamagata, Tochigi, Saitama, Tokyo, Osaka and Ehime -- and the nation's farm ministry and the Fukushima prefectural government have asked related municipalities to check where the meat was distributed.

The latest findings surfaced during a survey of cattle farms in the prefecture conducted by the Fukushima prefectural government since July 11, after a cattle farm in Minamisoma was found to have fed cows with straw containing radioactive cesium far above the government-set limit...

(Mainichi Japan) July 17, 2011

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110717p2g00m0dm010000c.html




Gov't to review Fukushima no-entry zone when cold shutdown realized

FUKUSHIMA (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Goshi Hosono, state minister in charge of dealing with the nuclear crisis, met Saturday with the leaders of municipalities near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and said that the central government will consider reviewing its policy on the no-entry zone near the plant when the reactors at the complex are stabilized.

According to participants, the two said the government will consider reviewing the areas within a 20-km radius of the Fukushima plant, which continues to spew radiation, and also said the government is aiming to bring forward the schedule for stabilizing the reactors from January as previously planned.

Kan's meeting with the leaders of local municipalities came as it appeared almost certain that the Step 1 phase of stably cooling down the nuclear reactors will be achieved on time by Sunday.

The first phase of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s time schedule for bringing the troubled nuclear power plant under control includes injecting nitrogen into the No. 3 reactor to prevent a hydrogen explosion...

(Mainichi Japan) July 17, 2011

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110717p2g00m0dm009000c.html

[robdogbucky]

1. Ironic, no?

Another typhoon named Ma on hit Tokyo in 2004:


Typhoon Ma-on lashes Tokyo

Posted October 09, 2004 22:07:00

The most powerful typhoon to hit eastern Japan in a decade has lashed Tokyo and neighbouring regions, leaving one man dead and three missing while sparking transport chaos amid downpours and landslides.

Typhoon Ma-on hit the Tokyo metropolitan area Saturday afternoon (local time), after slamming into the central Japan prefecture of Shizuoka, the Meteorological Agency said.

It brought about rainfall of 69 millimetres for one hour to 6pm (7pm AEST) in central Tokyo, the agency said.

A 55-year-old man died after a mudslide hit his house in Kamakura City, south-west of Tokyo, local police said...


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-10-09/typhoon-ma-on-lashes-tokyo/565712






In the realm of typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis it is always Tick tock.

[malaise]

2. Can anything else hit Japan this year?

Damn! Hope they don't face a direct hit.

[robdogbucky]

3. Priority shifts to removing fuel from reactors 3, 4

Sunday, July 17, 2011


Priority shifts to removing fuel from reactors 3, 4

Kyodo


The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. will place priority on removing fuel from the spent fuel pools of reactors 3 and 4 at the Fukushima No. 1 plant in the next phase of efforts to contain the crisis, sources said Saturday.

In a new road map for restoring the plant ravaged by the March earthquake and tsunami, the two parties will also specify for the first time that it will take up to three years to handle medium-term issues, such as treating highly radioactive water that has accumulated at the complex, the sources said.

Work to set up sheets around reactor buildings to prevent the dispersal of radioactive substances will be delayed, they said.

The updated version of the road map containing these measures is to be announced Tuesday, after "Step 1," including injecting nitrogen into the No. 3 reactor to prevent a hydrogen explosion, has been completed...

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110717a5.html





I love when they say things like "...Because the government sees the possibility of further radioactive materials being released as extremely low, it is planning to begin talks with local governments in Fukushima Prefecture to reduce areas subject to evacuation due to the nuclear disaster..."

Haven't they learned anything? Further radioactive materials could be released in a myriad of ways, in a hot second, in the realm of typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, and who knows what else? And it's like the government has any credibility left in this matter. One heartening fact in one of the above OP articles excerpted: There are only 18 of the 54 reactors still operating across Japan. So, they can live without nuke power it seems. Who knew?



Tick tock

[robdogbucky]

4. Typhoon updates:

Typhoon 08W (Ma-on), # 15 UPDATED

By Dave Ornauer
Published: July 17, 2011


Midnight Sunday, July 17, Japan time: Typhoon Ma-on’s latest forecast track has edged 17 miles west from our afternoon report; now, it’s 323 miles east-northeast of Kadena Air Base at noon p.m. Monday, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center's midnight forecast.

That changes Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing Weather Flight forecast wind timeline for Monday and Tuesday. Okinawa can expect maximum 52-mph gusts between 6 and 10 p.m. Monday, with 35-mph winds or greater forecasted for between 8 a.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Tuesday, about five hours earlier than the afternoon forecast. No accelerated tropical cyclone conditions of readiness are expected.

A few more adjustments to the rest of Ma-on's forecast destinations. We should know more when the mid-day local forecasts are issued at Sasebo, Iwakuni and the Kanto Plain:

http://www.stripes.com/blogs/pacific-storm-tracker/pacific-storm-tracker-1.106563/typhoon-08w-ma-on-15-updated-1.149433




Check out the satellite image of the storm with this story:


Posted by katzueno on Sunday, July 17th, 2011 (Japan Standard Time)

Very strong and very large Typhoon Ma-on (1106) may be coming to Japan


JMA said that "very large" and "very strong" typhoon Ma-on is expecting to near or land Japan between July 19 and 20 (Tue - Wed). NHK reports a couple people were killed due to high wave today.

NHK said this typhoon is extremely strong. Moreover, the typhoon moves very slow. Some area may experience strong wind and rain for a long time.

NHK also warns people if they feel the danger, don't hesitate to evaculate to nearby evaculation center.

As on July 17 evening, it's approaching Daito Island, Okinawa, Japan.


http://yokosonews.com/news/typhoon-ma-on-1106-may-land-on-july-19-20/





Tick tock

[robdogbucky]

5. China issues alert as Typhoon Ma-on approaches East China Sea

China issues alert as Typhoon Ma-on approaches East China Sea

English.news.cn 2011-07-17 20:38:34

BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China has issued a yellow alert for sea waves to warn ships and fishing boats around the waters of the East China Sea to take precautious measures as Typhoon Ma-on is expected to affect the region from Sunday night.

The yellow alert is the second lowest level alert in the four-level sea wave alert system.

From Sunday night to Monday morning, waters around the area of 26.3 degrees north latitude and 133.6 degrees east longitude are predicted to see waves of 9 to 12 meters, said a statement from China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center Sunday.

The areas in the east of the East China Sea will see waves of 4 to 6 meters, the statement said.

Editor: Deng Shasha

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-07/17/c_13990890.htm

[robdogbucky]

6. Additional update from NHK English

"...Strong winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour are expected in southern Kyushu and the Amami Islands, and up to 126 kilometers per hour in the Daito Islands.

Waves are expected to reach a height of 12 meters in the Daito Islands and southern Kyushu, 11 meters in the Amami Islands and 9 meters in Shikoku. High waves are also expected as far away as the Kanto region.

Heavy rainfall of 50 to 70 millimeters per hour is expected in the Daito Islands and from Kyushu through the Tokai region along the Pacific coast on Monday.

Up to 350 millimeters of rain is expected to fall in southern Kyushu and Shikoku by Monday evening, 180 millimeters in the Daito Islands, and 200 millimeters in northern Kyushu, the Kinki region and the Amami islands.

Monday, July 18, 2011 00:49 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_02.html

[robdogbucky]

7. Fukushima Daiichi prepares for typhoon arrival

Fukushima Daiichi prepares for typhoon arrival

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, is rushing to put a makeshift roof over a turbine building at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as typhoon Ma-on approaches Japan.

TEPCO released a new photo on Sunday showing its preparation work. The metal roof will cover the turbine building of reactor Number 3. The hole in its roof was caused by a hydrogen blast in March.

The new roof is 5-meters long and 16-meters wide. It is designed to cover up the hole to prevent an increase of radioactive water in the building.

TEPCO says the roof is scheduled to be installed with a crane on Monday...

Monday, July 18, 2011 05:50 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_01.html



Typhoon Spurs Tepco to Cover Fukushima

By Aaron Sheldrick and Kana Nishizawa - Jul 17, 2011 10:30 PM PT

Tokyo Electric Power Co. is rushing to install a cover over a building at its crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant to shield it from wind and rain as Typhoon Ma-on approaches Japan’s coast from the south.

Work on the cover for the turbine building of the No. 3 reactor started at about 8:30 a.m. today, Junichi Matsumoto, a general manager at the utility known as Tepco, said at briefing in Tokyo. Work on the ocean side of the nuclear plant has been halted, he said.

Tepco is on schedule to contain radioactive emissions from its Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant, which suffered three reactor meltdowns after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on July 16 during a visit to the area. The utility will announce tomorrow that it has completed the first phase of its plan to resolve the crisis, he said.

Tepco shares rose 2.6 percent on July 15 and are down 78 percent since the day before the disaster. Japan’s markets are closed today for a national holiday...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-18/tepco-rushes-to-cover-fukushima-nuclear-plant-as-typhoon-ma-on-nears-japan.html

[robdogbucky]

8. Trouble in water injection at Fukushima Daiichi

Trouble in water injection at Fukushima Daiichi

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, says it discovered a drop in the amount of water injected into a reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

TEPCO says water was moving at a rate of 3.8-cubic-meters per hour to cool down nuclear fuel in reactor number 1 on Sunday morning.
But an alarm warned that the rate had decreased to 3-cubic-meters per hour.

This was third time this month that such trouble had occurred, causing TEPCO to replace the pump in order to stabilize water injection.

Reactor number 2 shares the same pump but has not seen similar trouble. TEPCO says some deposits in the plumbing might have been behind the unstable flow of water. TEPCO says a decrease in water injection of this level should not trigger a sudden temperature rise in the reactor.

Monday, July 18, 2011 05:50 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_04.html

[robdogbucky]

9. Typhoon Ma-on brushes Daito Island

Typhoon Ma-on brushes Daito Island

A very large and powerful typhoon is moving east of Minami Daito Island in Okinawa Prefecture.

The Meteorological Agency says typhoon Ma-on was 270 kilometers northeast of Minami Daito Island and moving north at 20 kilometers per hour as of 10 AM on Monday.

The typhoon has a central atmospheric pressure of 945 hectopascals.

Winds of up to 162 kilometers per hour are blowing near its center, and more than 90 kilometers per hour within a radius of 170 kilometers...

Monday, July 18, 2011 10:23 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_11.html

[robdogbucky]

10. Monday Ma-on update, etc.

Monday, July 18, 2011


Typhoon heading for main islands

Kyodo, Bloomberg


A large and powerful typhoon was moving toward the main archipelago Monday, with the Meteorological Agency warning of downpours, strong winds and high waves in southwestern and western Japan through Tuesday.

Typhoon Ma-on was located about 300 km northeast off Okinawa's Minamidaito Island at noon Monday, traveling northward at about 25 kph, the agency said.

The season's sixth typhoon could cause heavy rain Monday in areas ranging from Kyushu to the Pacific coast of central Japan and is expected to approach western to eastern Japan on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The weather agency issued high wave warnings for most of the southern coast from Kyushu to southeast of Tokyo...

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110718x4.html

[robdogbucky]

11. TEPCO covers turbine building as storm approaches

TEPCO covers turbine building as storm approaches

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has built a makeshift roof over a turbine building at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as typhoon Ma-on approaches.

TEPCO started work to cover a hole in the roof of the No. 3 turbine building on Monday morning. The hole was caused by a hydrogen explosion in a neighboring reactor building in March.

The work ended 6 hours later when the makeshift metallic roof's three parts, each 5 meters long and 16 meters wide, were installed by a crane.

The roof is designed to prevent an increase of radioactive wastewater in the building. TEPCO plans to cover another hole in the building's roof on Tuesday. It is also stacking sandbags to prevent rainwater from entering the facility.

Monday, July 18, 2011 23:24 +0900 (JST)


http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_24.html

[robdogbucky]

12. Typhoon Ma-on brushes Kyushu

Typhoon Ma-on brushes Kyushu

A very large and powerful typhoon, Ma-on, is over the seas southeast of Kyushu, bringing heavy winds and rain to the Pacific coast from western Japan to the central Tokai region.

The Meteorological Agency said Ma-on was expected to be 260 kilometers east-southeast of Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southeastern Japan, and moving north at 25 kilometers per hour at 7 PM on Monday...

...30 millimeters of rain was recorded in Mie Prefecture in western Japan from 5 to 6 PM. Winds of up to 113 kilometers per hour were recorded at an airport in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, before 5 PM.

Miyakonojo City in the prefecture issued an evacuation advisory for 900 residents of 460 households near Mount Shinmoe, saying heavy rain could trigger a mudslide containing ash and rock that the volcano has been spewing...


Monday, July 18, 2011 23:24 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_23.html

[robdogbucky]

13. Typhoon Ma-on approaches Japan

Typhoon Ma-on approaches Japan

Ma-on is likely to make landfall on Wakayama Prefecture (Honshu Island) early on July 20th.


Typhoon Ma-on is threatening the Japanese island of Shikoku. According to forecasters, the typhoon is likely to make landfall on Wakayama Prefecture (Honshu Island) early on July 20th. Later on Wednesday, July 20th or early on Thursday, July 21st, the typhoon, weakened by that time into a category-one storm, is expected to hit the south of Kanto Plain and Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area. Consequently, heavy downpours and strong winds are forecast while flash floods and landslides remain possible. Power cuts, telecommunication and water outages are possible in affected areas. Transport disruptions are also expected as the typhoon could force the closure of several airports including Osaka International airport, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) and Narita International Airport. Ferry and train services (including the high-speed trains Shinkansen) are likely to be disrupted in southern and central Honshu.

Typhoon Ma-on will generate heavy rains and strong winds up to 130 mph. Several dozen typhoons hit Japan every year in the summer and early autumn. Japan is generally considered highly exposed to natural hazards (typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions...), but has taken several initiatives in the field of disaster prevention. The country is still recovering from March 11th 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami which lashed the north-eastern region and triggered a nuclear accident at Fukushima’s nuclear power plant.

If a typhoon is likely to occur in your area, you should stay informed through the radio or TV and follow all the recommendations given by local authorities.


http://www.netglobers.com/asia/japan-typhoon-ma-on-approaches-japan-21186.html