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The Izu archipelago have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri moved across the area on Monday, following in the footsteps of Typhoon Halong, which hit a week earlier.

Initial Consequences on the Island of Hachijojima

Officials on Hachijojima Island noted interruptions and destruction to about 220 homes after the typhoon brought 37mm (1.5in) of rain in one hour and wind bursts reaching 95mph. Flight services were interrupted, public facilities harmed, and heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the island chain. The storm also generated 9-metre waves, leading to hazardous shoreline situations. Near Oiso on the Pacific side, in Kanagawa prefecture, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.

The Evolution of Nakri

Nakri has since transitioned into an non-tropical storm system, weakening as it moved eastwards over cooler north Pacific waters, with gusts reducing to around 65mph as of Thursday. Riding the jet stream, its remaining parts are headed to reach British Columbia, Canada, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges.

Remembering Halong's Impact

A week earlier, Halong discharged more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as maximum sustained winds reached 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, precipitation levels climbed to 349mm, breaking the daily rainfall record. The storm's leftovers then crossed the north Pacific and arrived in Alaska on Sunday, causing an unprecedented 2-meter coastal surge.

Significant Harm in Alaska

The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the hardest hit. A single fatality occurred, houses were ruined, and nearly 1,500 people had to evacuate to safe zones. Alaska experienced one of the largest airlifts in its history to evacuate displaced residents. Halong stands as one of the most powerful storms the area has ever seen. Its quick strengthening was fuelled by unusually warm north Pacific waters, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.

Double Trouble in Mexico

At the same time, the country endured a double blow last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond converged, releasing nearly 609mm of precipitation over four days across the central and eastern areas. Steered by a dip in the jet stream, the two weather events struck the same zone one after another. The first deluge from Priscilla made the soil waterlogged, intensifying flooding when Raymond arrived. More than 300 communities were impacted by mudslides and river overflows. As of Wednesday, 66 people have been confirmed dead and 75 remain missing. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with standing water causing health worries in isolated areas.