The Kinki region of Japan faces a risk of warning-level heavy rain through Thursday, August 13, according to Kyoto Shimbun Digital. The outlet reports that Shiga Prefecture could see a Level 4 landslide danger warning issued, the second-highest alert on Japan's five-tier scale.
The warning comes as unstable atmospheric conditions bring sudden downpours across a wide area. Kyoto Shimbun Digital's report, published Wednesday morning, urges residents to prepare for intense rainfall that may trigger landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.
The alert follows a pattern of volatile weather seen across Japan during the Obon holiday period. Weather services, including tenki.jp and Weather News, have separately noted that very heavy rain is possible on Thursday from the Tohoku and Kanto regions through Kinki. Nippon Television's news division also reported sudden heavy rain in parts of Kanto on Wednesday, with Level 4 landslide warnings issued there as well.
For Kinki, the immediate concern is the next 24 hours. The Japan Meteorological Agency's warning-level threshold suggests rainfall intense enough to pose a direct threat to life and property. Shiga's potential Level 4 designation would mean residents in landslide-prone areas should be ready to evacuate.
What to watch next: Whether Shiga and other Kinki prefectures issue evacuation orders as rainfall accumulates through Thursday morning.
