(Updated) Japan Meteorological Agency's Highly Unusual Storm Warning on TV: "Don't Go Outside"

The warning comes from the government agency that prohibited its own researchers from disclosing any information regarding the dispersion of radioactive materials right after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident. Many on Twitter are saying, "Why didn't they say the same thing on March 15 and 21 last year and warn us about radioactive plumes from Fukushima?"

Well, the answer is easy. Because issuing warnings about radioactive material dispersions was not in their job description. It still isn't.

Anyway, a highly unusual low is about to sweep through entire Japan from the Japan Sea side, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) decided to hold a press conference which was broadcasted on TV to warn people in the evening of April 4.

From NHK News (4/2/2012):

今回の低気圧について、２日夕方、気象庁は臨時の記者会見を開き、関東などでは暴風が吹いて交通への影響も予想されることから、風が強まる時間帯には外出を控えるなど、警戒するよう呼びかけました。

About the low pressure system, the Japan Meteorological Agency held an emergency press conference in the evening of April 2, and warned that a storm wind may blow in Kanto and other areas affecting the transportation, and that people should refrain from going outside during the period of strong wind.

会見で、気象庁予報課の内田裕之主任予報官は「低気圧はあす急速に発達しながら日本海を北東へ進み、北日本を通過する予想となっているが、日本海でこれだけ発達する低気圧は過去にあまり例がない」と説明しました。

Hiroyuki Uchida, chief forecaster at the Agency explained, "The low-pressure system will rapidly grow tomorrow as it moves in the northeastern direction over the Japan Sea. It is expected to pass through the northern Japan. It is very rare for a low-pressure system to grow this big over the Japan Sea."

風がピークになる時間帯は、近畿や東海・北陸では３日午後から夕方にかけて、関東甲信などでは３日午後から夜にかけて、東北では３日午後から４日にかけてと予想され、北海道も３日夜にかけて風が強まる見込みです。

The period of the strongest storm wind is expected to be from the afternoon till the evening on April 3 in Kinki, Tokai, and Hokuriku regions, and from the afternoon till night on April 3 in Kanto and Koshinetsu regions. It will be from the afternoon of April 3 till April 4 in Tohoku. Hokkaido mayl experience stronger wind toward the night on April 3.

内田主任予報官は「関東などでは風の強さが風速２５メートルと台風並みで、先週末より風が強くなると予想している。特に午後６時ごろから９時ごろにかけては、歩いている人が転倒したり、車が運転できなくなったりして、交通への影響も出る可能性がある。あすはなるべく早めに帰宅するか、無理な外出を控えて風に警戒してほしい」と話しています。

Mr. Uchida said, "The wind speed in Kanto is expected to be 25 meters per second, which is almost like a typhoon wind. We expect the wind to be stronger than in the last weekend. In particular, from 6PM to 9PM, it is possible that the wind will be so strong that people may get knocked down by the wind. Transportation may be affected as it may be dangerous to drive a car. So tomorrow, take ample precaution by going home earlier than usual, or by not going out unless it is necessary to do so."

JMA satellite image, water vapor:

Storm warning has been issued to Hamadori (coastal 1/3) of Fukushima Prefecture, where Fukushima I Nuke Plant is located.

Warnings issued for Futaba-machi and Okuma-machi say (from the JMA site, in Japanese):

Storm warnings: wind up to 28 meters per second on the ocean
Wind direction: from southhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Peak hours: evening of April 3
High waves advisories: 8 meters

The wind visualization by a Swiss company shows the strong storm wind from south for the coastal areas of Fukushima. Click on the image to view the video at http://www.kachelmannwetter.de:

(h/t anon reader)

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